Beware of predatory journals: A caution from editors of three family medicine journals

We all share responsibility for addressing the threats of predatory publishing. Authors can avoid submitting work to such journals, even if promised sure acceptance and prompt publication. Readers can be vigilant when assessing the sources of published reports. Journal editors can check submitted manuscripts for duplicate publication, refuse to consider work already published in predatory journals, and carefully review article references before publication. Reviewers should be suspicious of requests from unfamiliar journals and refuse involvement with predatory journals and publishers. Professional organizations that sponsor journals can renew their commitments to quality, control, and access. Investigators can write grant budgets to include processing fees for publication in reputable journals. Academic institutions can restructure their criteria for academic advancement to favor quality over quantity of scholarly publications. What is at stake is the soundness of our science, the quality of our scholarly literature, and the public’s trust in our work.