A general medical journal is an academic journal dedicated to medicine in general, rather than a specific field of medicine.
The first English-language general medical journal was Medicina Curiosa, established in 1684, but unfortunately, it ceased publication after only two issues.[1] Among the oldest general medical journals that are still in publication today are The Lancet, established in 1823, and the New England Journal of Medicine, established in 1812.[1] In 1999, Medscape launched Medscape General Medicine, which became the world's first online-only general medical journal.[2]
Journals that are recognized as general medical journals include The Lancet, the New England Journal of Medicine,[1] and the Annals of Internal Medicine.[3] In 2009, the three highest-ranked general medical journals by impact factor were JAMA, The Lancet, and the New England Journal of Medicine.[4] The BMJ's web editor, Tony Delamothe, has described the BMJ as a general medical journal.[5] The Medical Journal of Australia is the only general medical journal in Australia,[6] and the Canadian Medical Association Journal has been called the leading general medical journal in Canada.[7]