In order to track the growth of open access to the medical literature, thanks to the new NIH policy requiring, rather than requesting, public access to the results of NIH funded literature, within 12 months of publication, which takes effect next month, here are some baseline data for March 29, 2008.
Cancer:
13% of the literature in PubMed on cancer links to Free Fulltext.
By publication date range:
7% - within last 30 days
10% - within the last year
17% - within the last two years
21% - within the last 10 years
Data on other topics indicates a range of percentages of literature that is Free Fulltext. Of the topics selected, the highest percentage was for genetics, with 30% Free Fulltext, and the lowest was dentistry, with 4% fulltext. Most topics appear to be close to the 13% range.
For full, downloadable and reusable data, see PubMed Central cancer.
Watch for updates in future posts of the Dramatic Growth of Open Access series.
