1. Results

2. Response 1855 authors 1814 email contacts 250 responded 14 % 228 completed 92 % 41 emails bounced 1564 non-responders 22 incomplete responses excluded

3. Descriptives Gender: 1:9 Gender: 1:9 Age in groups No.

4. Yrs in surgical practice No. of responders 54% 15% 19% 9% 4%

5. Location of authors 35% 4%2%7% 25%27%

6. Where last paper published: 9%6%7%14%22% Other surgical journal:13% Other non-surgical journal: 29% Yes, journal of first choice:75% No, previously submitted to higher IF surgery journal: 14% No, previously submitted to higher IF non-surgical journal: 5% No, previously submitted lower IF journal: 3%

7. Main field of surgery %

8. Do you prefer to submit your research to general or specialty journals?

9. The journals you prefer to submit to are predominantly read by: Global, general 65% Global, general 65% Primarily North-American29% Primarily North-American29% by North Americans in 61% by North Americans in 61% by Europeans in 16% by Europeans in 16% Primarily European/regional/national 6% Primarily European/regional/national 6%

10. FactorMedianMeanSum * ”Very Important” (%) ** ”Unimportant” (%) *** Impact factor54.44103161%1% Overall reputation54.42100762%2% Fast-track43.4378320%9% Time to print33.2473818%11% Previously published your topic 33.1772210%9% Specialty-specific33.0569610%12% Time to e-print33.0068414%18% Society affiliation32.9166414%16% Previous published in same journal 32.8665310%18% Subscription numbers 32.7963610%24% Additional costs32.7462517%25% Open access32.7462412%24% Acceptance/rejectio n rate 32.716179%21% Referee incl/excl.22.114803%39% Knowing editors/editorial board 22.054672%39%

11. SINGLE MOST IMPORTANT FACTOR FOR SUBMISSION

12. The single most important factor:

13. Age difference for IF vs Rep. p=0.033

14. Journal factors in categories

16. Conclusions Factors deemed most important The Journal “prestige” based on Overall reputation Overall reputation Impact factor Impact factor Factors held least important Authors’ own “influence” Knowing editor(s) or Knowing editor(s) or selecting referees selecting referees