Access to evidence-based care: a systematic review of trauma and surgical literature costs across resource settings
Background Evidence-based medicine has become the foundation for surgeons around the world to provide the most effective surgical care. However, the article processing charges (APCs) and subscription fees for surgical journals may be a barrier, particularly for those in low-income and middle-income...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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BMJ Publishing Group
2024-05-01
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| Series: | Trauma Surgery & Acute Care Open |
| Online Access: | https://tsaco.bmj.com/content/9/1/e001238.full |
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| author | Eduardo Huaman Lacey LaGrone Megan Wojick Hannah Conner Ashley Farley Marianne Luyo Sam Thomas-Pate |
| author_facet | Eduardo Huaman Lacey LaGrone Megan Wojick Hannah Conner Ashley Farley Marianne Luyo Sam Thomas-Pate |
| author_sort | Eduardo Huaman |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Background Evidence-based medicine has become the foundation for surgeons around the world to provide the most effective surgical care. However, the article processing charges (APCs) and subscription fees for surgical journals may be a barrier, particularly for those in low-income and middle-income countries (LMICs).Objectives The objective of this study was to define the current options for producers and consumers of surgical literature, inclusive of trauma, across resource settings.Data sources The Web of Science Core Collection database.Study appraisal and synthesis methods A complete list of journals publishing surgical content between 2019 and 2020 was compiled. The most frequently indexed journals were reviewed using the individual journal websites to extract the type of access (ie, open, closed, hybrid), impact factors, publication languages, APCs, subscription pricing, and any discounts listed.Results The literature search revealed 4759 unique journals. The 500 most frequently indexed were reviewed. The mean APC for a fully open access surgical journal was US$1574 and for a hybrid surgical journal was US$3338. The average costs for a 1-year subscription in a hybrid surgical journal were US$434 and US$1878 for an individual and institution, respectively. When considering purchasing power parity, APCs and subscription costs ranged from 2 to 15 times more expensive in LMICs when compared with those in the USA.Limitations Primary search term was in English only, and only peer-reviewed journal articles were reviewed.Conclusions or implications of key findings Although initiatives exist to support peer-reviewed journals in LMICs, there is an exorbitant cost for authors in these countries, as well as those in high-income countries that are not affiliated with a large institution, to either publish in, or access, a majority of surgical journals. Efforts to lower the overall cost of publishing must be made to provide greater access to medical literature.PROSPERO registration number CRD4202140227.Level of evidence Level IV. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-a86263f2935e4d97a7484b5c67b7615d |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2397-5776 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2024-05-01 |
| publisher | BMJ Publishing Group |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Trauma Surgery & Acute Care Open |
| spelling | doaj-art-a86263f2935e4d97a7484b5c67b7615d2025-01-24T12:40:09ZengBMJ Publishing GroupTrauma Surgery & Acute Care Open2397-57762024-05-019110.1136/tsaco-2023-001238Access to evidence-based care: a systematic review of trauma and surgical literature costs across resource settingsEduardo Huaman0Lacey LaGrone1Megan Wojick2Hannah Conner3Ashley Farley4Marianne Luyo5Sam Thomas-Pate6Hospital Nacional Guillermo Almenara, Lima, PeruDepartment of Surgery, UCHealth, Loveland, Colorado, USAVirginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine, Richmond, Virginia, USADepartment of Surgery, UCHealth, Loveland, Colorado, USAGates Foundation, Seattle, Washington, USAUniversidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia, Lima, PeruDepartment of Surgery, UCHealth, Loveland, Colorado, USABackground Evidence-based medicine has become the foundation for surgeons around the world to provide the most effective surgical care. However, the article processing charges (APCs) and subscription fees for surgical journals may be a barrier, particularly for those in low-income and middle-income countries (LMICs).Objectives The objective of this study was to define the current options for producers and consumers of surgical literature, inclusive of trauma, across resource settings.Data sources The Web of Science Core Collection database.Study appraisal and synthesis methods A complete list of journals publishing surgical content between 2019 and 2020 was compiled. The most frequently indexed journals were reviewed using the individual journal websites to extract the type of access (ie, open, closed, hybrid), impact factors, publication languages, APCs, subscription pricing, and any discounts listed.Results The literature search revealed 4759 unique journals. The 500 most frequently indexed were reviewed. The mean APC for a fully open access surgical journal was US$1574 and for a hybrid surgical journal was US$3338. The average costs for a 1-year subscription in a hybrid surgical journal were US$434 and US$1878 for an individual and institution, respectively. When considering purchasing power parity, APCs and subscription costs ranged from 2 to 15 times more expensive in LMICs when compared with those in the USA.Limitations Primary search term was in English only, and only peer-reviewed journal articles were reviewed.Conclusions or implications of key findings Although initiatives exist to support peer-reviewed journals in LMICs, there is an exorbitant cost for authors in these countries, as well as those in high-income countries that are not affiliated with a large institution, to either publish in, or access, a majority of surgical journals. Efforts to lower the overall cost of publishing must be made to provide greater access to medical literature.PROSPERO registration number CRD4202140227.Level of evidence Level IV.https://tsaco.bmj.com/content/9/1/e001238.full |
| spellingShingle | Eduardo Huaman Lacey LaGrone Megan Wojick Hannah Conner Ashley Farley Marianne Luyo Sam Thomas-Pate Access to evidence-based care: a systematic review of trauma and surgical literature costs across resource settings Trauma Surgery & Acute Care Open |
| title | Access to evidence-based care: a systematic review of trauma and surgical literature costs across resource settings |
| title_full | Access to evidence-based care: a systematic review of trauma and surgical literature costs across resource settings |
| title_fullStr | Access to evidence-based care: a systematic review of trauma and surgical literature costs across resource settings |
| title_full_unstemmed | Access to evidence-based care: a systematic review of trauma and surgical literature costs across resource settings |
| title_short | Access to evidence-based care: a systematic review of trauma and surgical literature costs across resource settings |
| title_sort | access to evidence based care a systematic review of trauma and surgical literature costs across resource settings |
| url | https://tsaco.bmj.com/content/9/1/e001238.full |
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