Introduction. The purpose of this analysis was twofold: to track the number of open access journals acquiring impact factor, and to investigate the distribution of subject categories pertaining to these journals. As a case study, journals in which the researchers of the National Institute of Health (Istituto Superiore di Sanita) in Italy have published were surveyed. #R##N##R##N#Method. Data were collected by searching open access journals listed in the Directory of Open Access Journals ) then compared with those having an impact factor as tracked by the Journal Citation Reports for the years 2010-2012. Journal Citation Reports subject categories were matched with Medical Subject Headings to provide a larger content classification. #R##N##R##N#Analysis. A survey was performed to determine the Directory journals matching the Journal Citation Reports list, and their inclusion in a given subject area. #R##N##R##N#Results. In the years 2010-2012, an increase in the number of journals was observed for Journal Citation Reports (+ 4.93%) and for the Directory (+18.51%). The discipline showing the highest increment was medicine (315 occurrences, 26%). #R##N##R##N#Conclusions. From 2010 to 2012, the number of open access journals with impact factor has gradually risen, with a prevalence for journals relating to medicine and biological science disciplines, suggesting that authors prefer to publish more than before in open access journals.
['Elisabetta Poltronieri', 'Elena Bravo', 'Moreno Curti', 'Maurizio Ferri', 'Cristina Mancini']
Open Access Publishing Trend Analysis: Statistics beyond the Perception.