Predatory Publishing Awareness Among Dental Interns in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia: A Cross-Sectional Study

The proliferation of predatory open-access journals poses a significant threat to scientific integrity, especially among early-career researchers unfamiliar with deceptive publishing practices. This study aimed to assess dental interns' awareness of predatory journals in Riyadh and to identify factors associated with awareness, including research interest and familiarity with journal evaluation tools.

An analytical cross-sectional survey was conducted among 155 dental interns across six institutions in Riyadh. A self-developed, psychometrically validated electronic questionnaire assessed participants' demographic profiles, research experience, and awareness of predatory journals. Statistical analyses included Cronbach's alpha, exploratory factor analysis, chi-square tests, t-tests, and logistic regression.

Only 47.7% of interns recognized the term "predatory journal", and 74.8% were unfamiliar with Beall's List. Awareness was significantly associated with research interest (OR = 7.18, *p* < 0.001) and prior invitations from predatory journals (OR = 8.82). Demographic factors such as gender, marital status, and university affiliation showed no significant associations with awareness. Awareness was moderately correlated with prior publication activity (r = 0.38, p < 0.001) but was not significantly predicted by publication count in regression models.

The findings reveal moderate yet inconsistent awareness of predatory publishing practices among dental interns in Riyadh. While many exhibit strong research interest, gaps remain in ethical journal evaluation and identification. Targeted educational initiatives, including institutional workshops and curriculum integration, are essential to foster ethical publishing literacy among emerging dental professionals.