Basic Medicine
 October 2022 issue cover | |
| Discipline | Medical science |
|---|---|
| Language | Korean |
| Publication details | |
| History | 1969–present |
| Publisher | Science and Encyclopedia Publishing House (North Korea) |
| Frequency | Quarterly |
| Indexing | |
| ISSN | 1728-0338 |
| OCLC no. | 70664592 |
Basic Medicine (Korean: 기초의학; MR: Kichʻo ŭihak) is a North Korean quarterly general medical journal established in 1969 and published by the Science and Encyclopedia Publishing House (과학백과사전출판사).[1] The journal is subject to widespread publication bias and is far from international standard, lacking peer review, in-line citations, or an ethical code. Basic Medicine is produced primarily for domestic distribution, although it is one of ten North Korean medical journals available in South Korea.
Format[edit]
North Korean medical journals, including Basic Medicine, are broadly far from international standard.[2] Each issue of Basic Medicine begins with a quotation from the ruling Kim family, a table of contents, and two to three unsigned editorials that reflect the government's positions.[1][3] The following section, titled "Research Results", consists of articles filed under "General Remarks and Data", "Original Idea", "News", and "Legal Commentary".[3] Articles for the journal include the names of the authors, but fail to include any other biographical information like institutional affiliation.[3] Articles published in the journal rarely exceed two pages, lack abstracts, and rarely make use of tables, graphs, or images, which are commonly drawn by hand.[4]
The journal's rear cover includes various publication information, though the journal has sometimes omitted this information.[3] Like other North Korean scientific journals, the journal does not mention any submission guidelines, an ethical code, a peer review process (though it does indicate that there is an editorial committee), or a subscription model.[3][2]
Research[edit]
The journal covers topics relating to "the basic structure and functions of the human body",[3] including diseases, the human body, and diagnostic technologies.[3][5] Research published in the journal sometimes cites Chinese or Western authors, including from the British Journal of Cancer and Human Pathology,[3] though the journal lacks up-to-date references.[2] While articles published in the journal include some statistics, including p-values, they largely lack any specific statistical methods and lack epidemiological indices.[2] North Korean propaganda is a consistent feature of the journal, which is subject to widespread publication bias.[3][2] The journal also lacks in-line citations and articles rarely cite more than six references.[2]
Research published in Basic Medicine in 2013 suggested that malaria prevention efforts in the country were hurt by the rise of drug-resistant variants.[6] Yonsei University public health professor Lee Hoon-sang noted that reports published in the journal demonstrated that the country had the ability to conduct PCR testing.[7]
Readership[edit]
Basic Medicine is primarily published for domestic distribution.[2] According to North Korea's Great Korean Encyclopedia, the journal's main readership comprises medical researchers, professionals, and educators.[8] Basic Medicine is one of ten North Korean medical journals available in South Korea.[9]
See also[edit]
Citations[edit]
- ^ a b Ha et al. 2018, p. 2.
- ^ a b c d e f g Ha et al. 2018, p. 3.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i Mercado 2022.
- ^ Ha et al. 2018, pp. 2–3.
- ^ Park et al. 2018, p. 115–116.
- ^ Park et al. 2018, p. 114.
- ^ 김 2022.
- ^ Park et al. 2018, p. 111.
- ^ Ha et al. 2018, p. 1.
References[edit]
- Ha, Shin; Yoon, Seok-Jun; Chun, Byung Chul; Kim, Kyeong Jin; Roh, Seung-Young; Lee, Eun Joo; Kim, Won Ho; Kim, Sin Gon; Lee, Yo Han (May 18, 2018). "Bibliographical Characteristics of North Korean Medical Journals and Articles". Journal of Korean Medical Science. 33 (27): e185. doi:10.3346/jkms.2018.33.e185. ISSN 1598-6357. PMC 6021359. PMID 29999502.
- 김, 주연 (June 25, 2022). "코로나19 넘어 北 감염병 해결하려면 "진단검사 실험실 구축 필요"" [To overcome COVID-19 and beyond in North Korea, "a diagnostic test laboratory must be established"]. 청년의사 (in Korean). Retrieved July 7, 2023.
- Mercado, Stephen (2022). "Basic Medicine (기초의학 / Kicho Uihak)". 38 North. Retrieved March 20, 2023.
- Park, Do-Hyeon; Choi, Min-Ho; Lim, Ah-Young; Shin, Hee Young (March 31, 2018). "An Analysis of Infectious Disease Research Trends in Medical Journals From North Korea". Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health. 51 (2): 109–120. doi:10.3961/jpmph.17.145. ISSN 1975-8375. PMC 5897231. PMID 29631346.
