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Short Communication | DOI: https://doi.org/10.31579/2690-4861/861
*Corresponding Author: John Kennedy Nnodim, Department of Medical Laboratory Science, Imo State University, Owerri.
Citation: John Kennedy Nnodim, (2025), A Threat to The Credibility of Medical Research Publications, International Journal of Clinical Case Reports and Reviews, 27(2); DOI: 10.31579/2690-4861/861
Copyright: © 2025, John Kennedy Nnodim. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.
Received: 26 May 2025 | Accepted: 09 June 2025 | Published: 16 June 2025
Keywords: threat; credibility; medical research publications
Predatory journals pose a serious danger to the credibility of medical research, and their detection and elimination need collaboration between the academic and scientific communities. By promising quick publication because of the journal's prestigious industry reputation, several of these predatory publications entice potential authors with alluring spam emails. The open-access paradigm is used by predatory journal publications for financial benefit without providing genuine editorial and peer-review services. A major danger to the reliability, integrity, and credibility of medical research publications is the startling increase in these journals in the academic community in recent years. Maintaining ethical standards in publishing is essential for protecting the integrity of science and public health, and it goes beyond simple professional duty. Generally speaking, this review sheds lighter on predatory journals.
Medical Research Publications' scientific research reputation is seriously threatened by predatory journals. These publications frequently compromise professional and ethical norms in order to take advantage of researchers' urge to publish their findings. In contrast to respectable journals, predatory ones are profit-driven, lack stringent peer review, and use dishonest tactics [1].
Academic work loses credibility when citations are used or publications are published in predatory journals. By citing dubious sources, writers inadvertently promote pseudoscience, disseminate false information, and erode the basis of evidence-based practice. It is crucial for nurse authors to identify and steer clear of these publications in order to preserve the reputation of the field and guarantee that research significantly advances patient care and healthcare [2]. The signs of a predatory journal are as follows.
To begin with, they have phony editorial boards. A respectable publication has an editorial board made up of skilled experts whose qualifications and connections are verifiable. However, predatory journals frequently have phony editors, contain reputable scholars without their consent, or even invent profiles entirely. They also don't have adequate peer review. The basis for reputable scientific publishing is peer review. It guarantees that studies are examined and approved before being released. The publication of poor-quality or even fraudulent research is made possible by predatory journals, which frequently completely bypass this procedure or do cursory evaluations. This damages nursing professionals' confidence in scholarly research and jeopardizes the caliber of evidence utilized in clinical settings [3]
It has been noted that there are predatory journals at play. Forceful Email Invitations. Be wary if you keep getting overly excited emails asking you to publish in a journal you've never heard of. Mass emails flattering potential authors while hiding their lack of legitimacy are sent by predatory journals using marketing strategies similar to spam. These invitations lack true intellectual integrity but frequently include ambiguous claims of reputation and quick publication.
Their publication schedules are, in fact, inconsistent. Rapid publication is appealing due to the pressure to publish, especially for faculty members vying for tenure or promotion. Predatory journals take advantage of this by guaranteeing rapid peer review and publication. However, these journals frequently fall short of their promises and hardly ever adhere to ethical publication requirements
The journal often charges outrageous fees for publication. The worst part is that some carry unstated costs [5].
Reputable journals are open and honest about publication fees; predatory journals, on the other hand, tend to hide their fees until after a manuscript is accepted, trapping authors into paying to keep their work. Many predatory journals attempt to mimic the names and designs of reputable, well-known journals in order to cause confusion. may use names that sound prestigious or closely resemble those of legitimate journals, deceiving authors into thinking they are submitting to a reputable publication. Predators may also use phony metrics or claim to have high impact factors in order to appear legitimate, putting their work in the company's orbit [6].
Their contact details are occasionally unclear or invalid. Reputable journals keep lines of communication open and professional. Predatory periodicals typically supply only generic email addresses (e.g., Gmail, Yahoo) or erroneous contact details, making it practically hard to reach them
Moreover. The quality and specificity of predatory journals' publications are compromised by their claims to cover overly wide topics. In specialized professions like nursing, this lack of focus is particularly troublesome [7].
No ethical standards exist. Appropriate peer review, editing, and indexing are necessary for ethical publishing. These obligations are disregarded by predatory journals, which results in the dissemination of subpar and untrustworthy research [8].
There are several predatory journals that make false claims about indexing. Reputable journals are listed in well-known databases such as Web of Science, MEDLINE, and PubMed. Predatory journals often falsely claim to be included in these indexes, fooling authors about their validity
In fact, a journal's trustworthiness is reflected in the caliber of its published papers and website. Numerous typos, grammatical problems, and broken website links are common in predatory journals, all of which indicate inadequate editorial monitoring.
Lastly, professional manuscript submission tools are used by the majority of respectable publications. However, predatory journals frequently request that authors send their work by email, eschewing safe and standardized submission processes [9]
Finally, properly research the reputation of the journal to avoid falling into the predatory journal trap. Examine the journal's indexing status in reliable databases like Web of Science, MEDLINE, and PubMed. Important resources include lists of predatory publishers and the Directory of Open Access Journals. Verify each member of the editorial board's name and affiliation. Steer clear of publications that list fake or unrelated editors. Verify the validity of impact factors in a similar manner using trustworthy resources like Clarivate's Journal Citation Reports. Make sure the publication's peer review and publication procedures are open and transparent. Poor communication, hidden costs, and claims of quick publication should arouse suspicions. The legitimacy of a journal can be better understood by collaboration with librarians and peers. Identifying predatory publications is often made easier by the resources available to institutional librarians.
Clearly Auctoresonline and particularly Psychology and Mental Health Care Journal is dedicated to improving health care services for individuals and populations. The editorial boards' ability to efficiently recognize and share the global importance of health literacy with a variety of stakeholders. Auctoresonline publishing platform can be used to facilitate of optimal client-based services and should be added to health care professionals' repertoire of evidence-based health care resources.
