Journal statistics in 2024, and the new era of Child Health Nursing Research in 2025
Article information
As the editor-in-chief of Child Health Nursing Research (CHNR), I am delighted to present Volume 31, Issue 1. In 2024, CHNR showcased its academic achievements by publishing 33 papers on various topics in child health nursing through four issues (Volume 30, Issues 1 to 4). In this Editorial, we will review the status and main trends of the papers published in 2024 and suggest research directions in pediatric nursing that are expected to be submitted to CHNR in the future.
1. Status of CHNR Paper Publications in 2024
CHNR Volume 30 was published in four issues, featuring a total of 33 papers in English: Vol. 30 (1) had eight papers, Vol. 30 (2) had nine papers, Vol. 30 (3) had five papers, and Vol. 30 (4) had 11 papers. The average number of authors per paper was 2.4 (standard deviation=1.1; range, 2–5) (Table 1). Of these authors, 85.4% were Korean, and the remaining 14.6% were Indonesian, Jordanian, and Ghanaian. The proportion of foreign authors increased by 5.2% compared to the previous year. Furthermore, 33.3% of the papers were supported by government agencies, universities, and public institutions, reflecting a 10% decrease from the previous year.
The types of articles published in CHNR in 2024 are shown in Table 2. They consisted of five editorials (15.2%), 26 original articles (78.8%), and two review articles (6.0%), indicating a significant increase in the proportion of original articles compared to 2022–2023. Similar to 2023, descriptive and/or cross-sectional studies were most common (13 articles, 39.5%), followed by experimental studies (four articles, 12.1%), secondary analysis studies (three articles, 9.1%), and qualitative analysis studies (three articles, 9.1%). In addition, one methodological study, one mixed-methods study, and one real-time Delphi methods study (3.0% each) were published. Although the number of original articles increased compared to 2023, the number of review articles decreased, consisting of one systematic review and one scoping review (3.0% each). The total number of papers published in CHNR in 2024 increased compared to 2023, but review article submissions remained low. Nevertheless, securing greater diversity in author nationality and increasing the number of published papers remain ongoing challenges. We hope that readers worldwide will submit a wider variety of high-quality papers.
2. Status and development direction of topics covered in CHNR in 2024
The papers in CHNR in 2024 can be classified into three main topic clusters (Table 3).
1) Child and adolescent health issues and the role of the family
CHNR featured studies emphasizing the roles of the family and parents in obesity, mental health, and stunting, along with parental health concerns and family resilience.
2) Development of nursing practice and education
CHNR published studies on nurses’ practical expertise and educational innovations, such as simulation-based learning, self-efficacy enhancement, and professional development. The educational aspect will be an essential cornerstone for improving the quality of pediatric nursing practice.
3) Innovation in medical technology and intervention programs
The intervention studies published in CHNR in 2024 w included technology-based approaches such as chatbots, mobile apps, and telemedicine, focusing on increasing efficiency and innovating patient care methods. Additionally, studies evaluating the effectiveness of intervention programs for child abuse prevention and cancer treatment were published. This trend shows CHNR’s rapid multidisciplinary development, integrating nursing practice, technology, and family-centered nursing.
3. Expected directions for child health-related research in 2025
In 2025, CHNR encourages fellow scholars in the field of pediatric nursing to actively research and submit papers on the following topics:
1) Climate change and child health
Research analyzing the impact of environmental changes on child health and proposing relevant nursing interventions.
2) Health equity and vulnerable groups
Research addressing health issues faced by socially disadvantaged or vulnerable children and suggesting nursing strategies to improve their well-being.
3) Artificial intelligence and nursing practice
Research exploring innovative examples and clinical applications of child nursing practice using artificial intelligence.
4) Global health and collaborative research
Research on health issues of children in developing countries, international cooperation in nursing interventions, and solutions to global health concerns.
5) Mental health and digital therapeutics
Research on digital therapeutics and their effectiveness in addressing mental health challenges among children and adolescents.
4. Commitment to the further development of CHNR
CHNR is indexed in several reputable databases, such as the Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature (CINAHL), Scopus, Directory of Open Access Journals (DOAJ), Google Scholar, Crossref, Korea Citation Index (KCI), KoreaMed, and the Korean Medical Citation Index (KOMCI). These databases meticulously maintain records of all publications in CHNR. Notably, CHNR was approved for inclusion in the DOAJ and Scopus Content Selection and Advisory Boards in July 2019 and February 2018, respectively. CHNR is also part of the KCI, and all manuscripts published in CHNR are permanently accessible to the public through the CHNR website (http://www.e-chnr.org/). Furthermore, CHNR has been indexed in PubMed Central (PMC) since January 2019 (Vol. 26, Issue 1). The CHNR journal editorial board is confident that the journal will be listed in MEDLINE and the Emerging Sources Citation Index (ESCI), in addition to PMC.
CHNR has reached its current status thanks to the dedication and efforts of many individuals. First, I extend my sincere gratitude to the authors who submitted their excellent work to CHNR. I also thank the reviewers who provided valuable feedback and the editorial committee members who worked tirelessly to enhance the quality of the papers. My appreciation also goes to the past executives of the Korean Society of Pediatric Nursing, whose material and moral support has helped CHNR become a significant milestone in pediatric nursing. As the official journal of the Korean Society of Pediatric Nursing, CHNR will continue striving to serve as a core academic platform for introducing various innovative and practical studies in child health nursing. Ongoing interest and engagement from readers around the world will drive the continued development of pediatric nursing. I look forward to receiving more meaningful submissions from researchers devoted to children’s well-being and to advancing pediatric nursing scholarship.
Notes
Authors’ contribution
All the work was done by Yunsoo Kim.
Conflict of interest
Yunsoo Kim has been the editor-in-chief of Child Health Nursing Research since 2022. She was not involved in the review process of this editorial. No existing or potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.
Funding
None.
Data availability
Please contact the corresponding author for data availability.
Acknowledgements
None.