A Framework for Anti-Racist Publication in Palliative Care: Structures, Processes, and Outcomes

Area of Science:

• Health Equity
• Academic Publishing
• Anti-Racism in Medicine

Background:

• Systemic racism disadvantages racial and ethnic minorities in healthcare.
• Hospice and palliative care journals perpetuate racial discrimination.
• Palliative care's focus on patient values offers a unique opportunity for social justice.

Purpose of the Study:

• To examine how palliative care journals contribute to systemic racism.
• To propose reforms for promoting equity in academic publishing.
• To advocate for anti-racist practices in scholarly communication.

Main Methods:

• Analysis of the publication life cycle: submission, peer-review, and publication.
• Description of the current academic publishing landscape's impact on under-represented scholars and patients.
• Proposal of specific reforms for improving publication equity.

Main Results:

• Current publishing practices diminish minority voices and hinder under-represented scholars.
• Proposed reforms include an "Equity in Publication" checklist and an "Equity Rating."
• Soliciting manuscripts on equity-relevant topics and promoting diverse scholars are key strategies.

Conclusions:

• Palliative care journals can lead in cultivating anti-racist practices and promoting equity.
• Including non-dominant voices and providing fair recognition and remuneration are crucial.
• An anti-racist publishing agenda can transform healthcare outcomes.