Subject(s)
Artificial Intelligence , Publishing , Artificial Intelligence/ethics , Humans , Publishing/ethics , Publishing/standards , Periodicals as Topic/ethics , Periodicals as Topic/standards , Peer Review/ethics , Peer Review, Research/ethics , Peer Review, Research/standards , Writing/standardsSubject(s)
Authorship , Editorial Policies , Humans , Periodicals as Topic/ethics , Publishing/ethics , Social JusticeSubject(s)
Editorial Policies , Peer Review, Research , Periodicals as Topic , Publishing , Peer Review, Research/methods , Peer Review, Research/standards , Peer Review, Research/trends , Periodicals as Topic/ethics , Periodicals as Topic/standards , Publishing/ethics , Publishing/standards , Scientific Misconduct/legislation & jurisprudenceABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Medical research in complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) has increased recently, raising ethical concerns about the moral status of CAM. Medical academic journals are responsible for conducting ethical review (ER) of manuscripts to protect the interests of human subjects and to make ethical results available before deciding to publish. However, there has been no systematic analysis of the ER in CAM journals. This study is aim to evaluate the current status of ethical requirements and compliance in CAM journals. METHODS: This is a cross-sectional study. We reviewed instructions for authors (IFAs) of CAM journals included in the Journal Citation Reports (2021) ( https://jcr.clarivate.com ) for general information and requirements for ER. We also browsed the manuscripts regarding randomized controlled trials published by CAM journals in Q1 and Q2 section from January to June, 2023, to check the actual situation of ethical requirement. Descriptive statistics and Fisher's exact test were used for statistical analysis. RESULTS: 27 journals and 68 manuscripts were ultimately included. 92.6% (25/27) IFAs included keywords of ER, indicating the presence of ethical considerations. However, no specific ER was required for CAM (n = 0). We categorized journals by Geographic origin, JCR section, Year of electronic JCR, Types of studies, % of OA Gold to explore the factors that could influence CAM journals to have certain ethical review policies. The results showed there was no statistical significance in certain ethical review policy in any classification of journals (p > 0.05). All RCT manuscripts included in the study generally met the requirements of the published journals for ethical review. CONCLUSIONS: All IFAs discussed ER, but the content was scattered, unfocused, and there were no specific ER requirements regarding CAM. Although the manuscripts basically met the requirements of the journal, it was not possible to get closer to the process of ER in the manuscript. To ensure full implementation of these policies in the future, CAM journals should require authors to provide more details, or to form a list of items necessary for CAM ethical review.
Subject(s)
Complementary Therapies , Editorial Policies , Periodicals as Topic , Complementary Therapies/ethics , Cross-Sectional Studies , Humans , Periodicals as Topic/ethics , Ethical Review , Authorship , Publishing/ethicsABSTRACT
The expression "Publish or perish," first appeared in 1942. It signified the rising importance of publication as a means to obtain research funds and establish a secure academic career. The expression is still highly relevant, but increasingly problematic. Perhaps it should be revised to read "Publish and Perish". We have reached a point where researchers, especially in non-English speaking countries, are no longer able to afford to publish their research. There seems little point in undertaking research if we can no longer disseminate or, indeed, apply the wisdom gained from it.