Dealing with predatory journal articles captured in systematic reviews
Abstract Background Systematic reviews appraise and synthesize the results from a body of literature. In healthcare, systematic reviews are also used to develop clinical practice guidelines. An increasingly common concern among systematic reviews is that they may unknowingly capture studies publishe...
| Main Authors: | , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
BMC
2021-06-01
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| Series: | Systematic Reviews |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s13643-021-01733-2 |
| _version_ | 1818436023035625472 |
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| author | Danielle B. Rice Becky Skidmore Kelly D. Cobey |
| author_facet | Danielle B. Rice Becky Skidmore Kelly D. Cobey |
| author_sort | Danielle B. Rice |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background Systematic reviews appraise and synthesize the results from a body of literature. In healthcare, systematic reviews are also used to develop clinical practice guidelines. An increasingly common concern among systematic reviews is that they may unknowingly capture studies published in “predatory” journals and that these studies will be included in summary estimates and impact results, guidelines, and ultimately, clinical care. Findings There is currently no agreed-upon guidance that exists for how best to manage articles from predatory journals that meet the inclusion criteria for a systematic review. We describe a set of actions that authors of systematic reviews can consider when handling articles published in predatory journals: (1) detail methods for addressing predatory journal articles a priori in a study protocol, (2) determine whether included studies are published in open access journals and if they are listed in the directory of open access journals, and (3) conduct a sensitivity analysis with predatory papers excluded from the synthesis. Conclusion Encountering eligible articles published in presumed predatory journals when conducting a review is an increasingly common threat. Developing appropriate methods to account for eligible research published in predatory journals is needed to decrease the potential negative impact of predatory journals on healthcare. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-14T17:02:11Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-86ed36eac4e7405cb4cef13fe334979d |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2046-4053 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-14T17:02:11Z |
| publishDate | 2021-06-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Systematic Reviews |
| spelling | doaj.art-86ed36eac4e7405cb4cef13fe334979d2022-12-21T22:53:50ZengBMCSystematic Reviews2046-40532021-06-011011410.1186/s13643-021-01733-2Dealing with predatory journal articles captured in systematic reviewsDanielle B. Rice0Becky Skidmore1Kelly D. Cobey2Department of Psychology, 2001 Avenue McGill College, McGill UniversityCentre for Journalology, Clinical Epidemiology Program, Ottawa Hospital Research InstituteCentre for Journalology, Clinical Epidemiology Program, Ottawa Hospital Research InstituteAbstract Background Systematic reviews appraise and synthesize the results from a body of literature. In healthcare, systematic reviews are also used to develop clinical practice guidelines. An increasingly common concern among systematic reviews is that they may unknowingly capture studies published in “predatory” journals and that these studies will be included in summary estimates and impact results, guidelines, and ultimately, clinical care. Findings There is currently no agreed-upon guidance that exists for how best to manage articles from predatory journals that meet the inclusion criteria for a systematic review. We describe a set of actions that authors of systematic reviews can consider when handling articles published in predatory journals: (1) detail methods for addressing predatory journal articles a priori in a study protocol, (2) determine whether included studies are published in open access journals and if they are listed in the directory of open access journals, and (3) conduct a sensitivity analysis with predatory papers excluded from the synthesis. Conclusion Encountering eligible articles published in presumed predatory journals when conducting a review is an increasingly common threat. Developing appropriate methods to account for eligible research published in predatory journals is needed to decrease the potential negative impact of predatory journals on healthcare.https://doi.org/10.1186/s13643-021-01733-2Predatory journalsSystematic reviewsMeta-analysisOpen access |
| spellingShingle | Danielle B. Rice Becky Skidmore Kelly D. Cobey Dealing with predatory journal articles captured in systematic reviews Systematic Reviews Predatory journals Systematic reviews Meta-analysis Open access |
| title | Dealing with predatory journal articles captured in systematic reviews |
| title_full | Dealing with predatory journal articles captured in systematic reviews |
| title_fullStr | Dealing with predatory journal articles captured in systematic reviews |
| title_full_unstemmed | Dealing with predatory journal articles captured in systematic reviews |
| title_short | Dealing with predatory journal articles captured in systematic reviews |
| title_sort | dealing with predatory journal articles captured in systematic reviews |
| topic | Predatory journals Systematic reviews Meta-analysis Open access |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s13643-021-01733-2 |
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