Pediatric Open Access Journals and Publication Practices
Author Information
Author(s): Meerpohl Joerg J, Wolff Robert F, Antes Gerd, Elm Erik von
Primary Institution: German Cochrane Center, Institute of Medical Biometry and Medical Informatics, University Medical Center Freiburg
Hypothesis
A high proportion of pediatric open-access journals have adopted recommendations on good publication practice.
Conclusion
Pediatric open-access journals mention certain recommendations more frequently than conventional journals, but endorsement is still only moderate.
Supporting Evidence
- 66% of pediatric open-access journals mentioned the ICMJE Uniform Requirements.
- 32% required or recommended trial registration prior to publication.
- 61% stated policies for disclosure of conflicts of interest.
- 29% referred to the CONSORT reporting guidelines.
Takeaway
This study looked at how well pediatric open-access journals follow good publishing rules. They do better than regular journals, but there's still room for improvement.
Methodology
The authors analyzed author instructions from 41 pediatric open-access journals to assess their endorsement of four domains of editorial policy.
Potential Biases
Potential bias due to the limited number of journals and the focus on author instructions rather than editorial practices.
Limitations
The study is exploratory and based on author instructions, not actual editorial practices.
Participant Demographics
The journals analyzed were from various countries, with a mix of publishers including open access and professional societies.
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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