A Qualitative Inquiry on Indian Biomedical Journals: Situation Analysis and the Way Forward.

Area of Science:

• Bibliometrics and Scholarly Publishing
• South Asian Biomedical Research

Background:

• Indian Biomedical Journals (IBMJs) have a long history but lack the expected global visibility and metrics.
• There is a growing recognition of the challenges faced by IBMJs in the current academic landscape.

Purpose of the Study:

• To conduct a situation assessment of English-language IBMJs to inform practical solutions.
• To engage in a sustainable debate aimed at increasing the global impact of IBMJs.

Main Methods:

• A qualitative inquiry involving editors of IBMJs was conducted in March 2024.
• Journal landscaping via a self-administered questionnaire identified key domains of inquiry.
• Group discussions were used to triangulate findings on strengths, weaknesses, and opportunities.

Main Results:

• Thirteen high-impact IBMJs participated, with journals over 110 years old included.
• Strengths include free access, low-cost publishing, and catering to non-native English speakers.
• Weaknesses involve poor manuscript quality, long decision times, and reliance on volunteer editors/reviewers.

Conclusions:

• A roadmap for increasing the global footprint of IBMJs requires focusing on research quality over quantity.
• Innovative dissemination strategies for regional research outputs are crucial for enhancing global impact.