[Predatory Journals - Authors and Readers, Beware!]

Area of Science:

• Medical publishing ethics
• Scientific integrity
• Scholarly communication

Background:

• Predatory journals are illegitimate scientific publications.
• They deviate from accepted standards, involving fraud and deception.
• Practices include lack of peer review, excessive fees, and ethical violations, damaging medical science credibility.

Purpose of the Study:

• To describe the phenomenon of predatory journals.
• To examine their scope, characteristics, and dangers.
• To present methods for identifying and avoiding these journals.

Main Methods:

• Literature review of predatory publishing.
• Analysis of journal characteristics and practices.
• Development of identification criteria.

Main Results:

• Predatory journals lack rigorous peer review and engage in unethical practices.
• They pose significant risks to scientific integrity and public trust.
• Clear indicators for identification exist.

Conclusions:

• Researchers must be vigilant in identifying and avoiding predatory journals.
• Upholding ethical publishing standards is crucial for medical science.
• Awareness and education are key to combating predatory publishing.