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Study of Predatory Open Access Nursing Journals.

Publication ,  Journal Article
Oermann, MH; Conklin, JL; Nicoll, LH; Chinn, PL; Ashton, KS; Edie, AH; Amarasekara, S; Budinger, SC
Published in: J Nurs Scholarsh
November 2016

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to identify predatory journals in nursing, describe their characteristics and editorial standards, and document experiences of authors, peer reviewers, and editors affiliated with these journals. DESIGN: Using two sources that list predatory journals, the research team created a list of nursing journals. In Phase One, the team collected data on characteristics of predatory nursing journals such as types of articles published, article processing charge, and peer review process. In Phase Two, the team surveyed a sample of authors, reviewers, and editors to learn more about their experiences with their affiliated journals. METHODS: Data from the review of predatory nursing journals were analyzed using descriptive statistics. Written comments were summarized and categorized. FINDINGS: There were 140 predatory nursing journals from 75 publishers. Most journals were new, having been inaugurated in the past 1 to 2 years. One important finding was that many journals only published one or two volumes and then either ceased publishing or published fewer issues and articles after the first volume. Journal content varied widely, and some journals published content from dentistry and medicine, as well as nursing. Qualitative findings from the surveys confirmed previously published anecdotal evidence, including authors selecting journals based on spam emails and inability to halt publication of a manuscript, despite authors' requests to do so. CONCLUSIONS: Predatory journals exist in nursing and bring with them many of the "red flags" that have been noted in the literature, including lack of transparency about editorial processes and misleading information promoted on websites. The number of journals is high enough to warrant concern in the discipline about erosion of our scholarly literature. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Nurses rely on the published literature to provide evidence for high-quality, safe care that promotes optimal patient outcomes. Research published in journals that do not adhere to the highest standards of publishing excellence have the potential to compromise nursing scholarship and is an area of concern.

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Published In

J Nurs Scholarsh

DOI

EISSN

1547-5069

Publication Date

November 2016

Volume

48

Issue

6

Start / End Page

624 / 632

Location

United States

Related Subject Headings

  • Periodicals as Topic
  • Peer Review
  • Open Access Publishing
  • Nursing
  • Nursing
  • Humans
  • Editorial Policies
  • Authorship
  • 4205 Nursing
  • 4204 Midwifery
 

Citation

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Oermann, M. H., Conklin, J. L., Nicoll, L. H., Chinn, P. L., Ashton, K. S., Edie, A. H., … Budinger, S. C. (2016). Study of Predatory Open Access Nursing Journals. J Nurs Scholarsh, 48(6), 624–632. https://doi.org/10.1111/jnu.12248
Oermann, Marilyn H., Jamie L. Conklin, Leslie H. Nicoll, Peggy L. Chinn, Kathleen S. Ashton, Alison H. Edie, Sathya Amarasekara, and Susan C. Budinger. “Study of Predatory Open Access Nursing Journals.J Nurs Scholarsh 48, no. 6 (November 2016): 624–32. https://doi.org/10.1111/jnu.12248.
Oermann MH, Conklin JL, Nicoll LH, Chinn PL, Ashton KS, Edie AH, et al. Study of Predatory Open Access Nursing Journals. J Nurs Scholarsh. 2016 Nov;48(6):624–32.
Oermann, Marilyn H., et al. “Study of Predatory Open Access Nursing Journals.J Nurs Scholarsh, vol. 48, no. 6, Nov. 2016, pp. 624–32. Pubmed, doi:10.1111/jnu.12248.
Oermann MH, Conklin JL, Nicoll LH, Chinn PL, Ashton KS, Edie AH, Amarasekara S, Budinger SC. Study of Predatory Open Access Nursing Journals. J Nurs Scholarsh. 2016 Nov;48(6):624–632.
Journal cover image

Published In

J Nurs Scholarsh

DOI

EISSN

1547-5069

Publication Date

November 2016

Volume

48

Issue

6

Start / End Page

624 / 632

Location

United States

Related Subject Headings

  • Periodicals as Topic
  • Peer Review
  • Open Access Publishing
  • Nursing
  • Nursing
  • Humans
  • Editorial Policies
  • Authorship
  • 4205 Nursing
  • 4204 Midwifery