Abstract
This study compared the impact-relevant self-citation rates of scientific journals in the fields of Dentistry, Oral Surgery & Medicine; Nanoscience & Nanotechnology; and Health Care Sciences & Services, from 2015 to 2021 and tested the correlation between impact-relevant self-citation rates and their impact factors. Dentistry, Oral Surgery & Medicine journals showed statistically greater impact-relevant self-citation rates compared to Nanoscience & Nanotechnology journals (in 2015; 2016; 2017; 2018; 2019; and 2020) and Health Care Sciences & Services journals (in 2015 and 2017). A significant negative correlation was observed between the impact-relevant self-citation rate and the journal’s impact factor in Nanoscience & Nanotechnology journals. Self-citation in Dentistry, Oral Surgery & Medicine in the time series analyzed was remarkable and impact-relevant self-citation rate was negatively associated with the journal’s impact factor in nanoscale research journals. The direct effect of journal self-citation rates on bibliometric assessments should be analyzed with caution.