Peer-reviewed physical education journals from Arabic-speaking countries: a regional assessment
| Pages | 458-466 |
| Published date | 03 September 2018 |
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.1108/GKMC-09-2017-0081 |
| Date | 03 September 2018 |
| Author | Joshua Bernstein,Angela Neary,Basil H. Aboul-Enein |
| Subject Matter | Library & information science,Information behaviour & retrieval,Information in society,Information literacy,Library & information services |
Peer-reviewed physical education
journals from Arabic-speaking
countries: a regional assessment
Joshua Bernstein
Department of Health Education, A.T. Still University, Kirksville, Missouri, USA
Angela Neary
Cuesta College, San Luis Obispo, California, USA, and
Basil H. Aboul-Enein
London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine Department of Global Health
and Development, London, UK
Abstract
Purpose –Non-communicable diseases(NCD) such as heart disease, diabetes and overweight and obesity
are associated with physical inactivity and represent the leading cause of death globally. In the Arabic-
speaking region, NCD is associated with more than 2.3 million deaths annually with rates expected to
increase. Professional physical education (PE) journals are important resources in the dissemination of
knowledge from evidence to practice.With the growing physical inactivity problem among Arabic-speaking
countries, the purpose of this paper is to assess the availability culturally relevant peer-reviewed physical
educationjournals in this region.
Design/methodology/approach –An assessment of professional PE journals within this region was
conducted using four academic databases and journal directories. The electronic search generated 14 PE-
affiliated journals in Arabic-speaking countries with a publication status of active, interrupted or ceased;
search parameterswere limited to English, Arabic and French languages.
Findings –Results indicated that no professional publications identified in this review predates to 2005
within the Arabic-speakingregion. Although all 14 journals within the sample offer both electronic and open
access, only one providedboth print and electronic versions. Iraq was over-representedwith 12 PE journals;
no other countryoffered more than one.
Originality/value –Systematic analyses of PE prevalenceamong Arabic-speaking countries are scarce,
and there are no current evaluationsof peer-reviewed publications addressing PE within the Arabic-speaking
region. PE capacitybuilding and collaboration can be fostered,improved and maintained when supportedby
regionallyand culturally congruent research.
Keywords Research publication, Access to research, Arabic-speaking region, Physical education,
Physical inactivity, Professional journals
Paper type Viewpoint
Introduction
The Arabic-speaking region, characterized by 22-member countries of the League of Arab
States (Blair et al., 2014), is undergoing a historic transitional period across political,
economic and health systems (Jabbour,2013;Jabbour et al.,2012) that affects individual and
community health and wellness. Lack of proactive political commitment, deficiency in
government-sponsored programing, limited resources, a central focus on disease treatment
over disease prevention or health promotion and the inconsistency of health and wellness
GKMC
67,6/7
458
Received25 September 2017
Revised18 April 2018
Accepted29 May 2018
GlobalKnowledge, Memory and
Communication
Vol.67 No. 6/7, 2018
pp. 458-466
© Emerald Publishing Limited
2514-9342
DOI 10.1108/GKMC-09-2017-0081
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