DO YOU HAVE A PREFERENCE FOR PRINT VS. ONLINE (ELECTRONIC) PUBLICATIONS?
Online publishing may be the wave of the future, but right now most dentists still prefer the printed page for their reading. About 78 percent of dentists responding to JADA’s January Question of the Month said they favor paper-and-ink periodicals over Inter-net publications.
Confided one dentist, "I have often thought that at some point all journals would be published exclusively online. But the print journal is still the most convenient. I can read it in my office or home, take it with me to my son’s swim meet, and read it on a plane or train. An online journal would simply not be that convenient."
Added another, "I grew up with print publications. I like to hold them in my hands, earmark them, highlight them, leave them for two days and return to them—like a slow-reading novel that is there when I have time."
Of the 91 dentists responding to JADA’s January question, 71 preferred print, 13 favored online, and seven said, in effect, that depends.
"I primarily rely on print publications," said one respondent, "but online publications will be a welcome addition as long as the print publications are continued."
"It depends on where I am," said another.
Those who preferred online publications said they liked the speed and convenience. Noted one reader with an online preference, "I can more easily find the reference I am seeking by doing a "Ctrl-F" or "apple-F" (find feature) and asking for a specific word. That brings me immediately to the paragraph I seek, rather than having to scan over pages of unwanted material."
Observed another who favored online, "I often have trouble pulling information out of printed journals. I live high up in the Colorado Rocky Mountains, and the nearest library that has journals is at the [University of Colorado] dental school in Denver. Research information is not at hand for me. It takes too long and is expensive for a literature search to be mailed to me for every question I have. I have many questions."
In a possibly disingenuous attempt to counter the bias inherent in JADA’s question (this is a print publication, after all), January’s query also was posted on the ADA’s Web site, ADA ONLINE. All future Questions of the Month will appear online and in print.
Surprisingly, of the 31 dentists who answered January’s question online, 15 said they preferred print publications, 13 favored electronic media, and three said both have merit.
One respondent who prefers online reading suggested that members be given "a choice to pay the publication costs of having the printed version if they wish to have it this way."
Contrary to what some members believe, the ADA’s print publications are not a drain on the Association’s economy. In fact, they turn a substantial profit each year, contributing precious nondues dollars to the ADA’s general coffers.
As ADA Executive Director John S. Zapp noted in an address to the House of Delegates last year, profit margins for scientific journals like JADA average about 9 percent nationwide. JADA’s gross profits are currently 22 percent.
Those who want the option of reading The Journal either online or in print will likely get their way later this year. As soon as all the particulars can be worked out, the Association will begin posting JADA on the Web site each month, with full text, graphics and other elements accessible to ADA members and subscribers.
If you’re among those who prefer the paper version of JADA, have no fear. It’ll be around for years to come.
