How to Implement GPP in Medical Research and Publication

An Academy Guide

Interesting topics

How to Implement GPP in Medical Research and Publication

Table of Content

Good Publication Practice (GPP) is a critical construct to which researchers and medical professionals wish to subscribe when they communicate their research. It is instrumental in making sure the publication process is transparent, that integrity is upheld, and that ethical standards are met. Adhering to GPP can help researchers and medical professionals to promote the credibility of their research, to promote ethical behaviours, and standards in the scientific community.

This guide aims to describe how to go about using GPP in the medical research and publishing process, and will focus on the essential components, challenges involved, and best practices.[1]

1. Understanding GPP

GPP refers to the ethical guidelines and processes that govern the publication of scientific research. These guidelines are designed to prevent research misconduct such as falsification, plagiarism, and conflicts of interest. GPP helps researchers navigate the publication process in a way that ensures their work is both credible and transparent.

1.1. Key Components of GPP

Inclusion of Transparency: Making all research data open and evident, and accessible.
Giving Due Credit: Giving credit to the individuals or organizations who supported your research.
Ethical Discourse about your Manuscript: Being fair and ethical in preparing and publishing your manuscript and presenting it to reviewers and peers.

2. Steps to Implement GPP in Medical Research

Implementing GPP entails taking a methodological approach at a variety of stages in the research and publication process. Researchers need to demonstrate that the studies they are submitting for publication are properly designed, ethical and adhere to appropriate standards, before submission to journals.

Step	Description
Define Ethical Guidelines	Establish ethical guidelines for the entire research process, from planning to submission.
Design Transparent Research [2]	Use clear and reproducible methods to ensure transparency in the research findings.
Maintain Data Integrity	Collect and store data ethically and ensure that data is not manipulated or fabricated.
Address Conflicts of Interest	Disclose any financial or personal conflicts of interest that could influence the research.
Peer Review Process [3]	Submit manuscripts to peer-reviewed journals to ensure validity and unbiased evaluation.
Follow Journal’s Ethics Policy [4]	Ensure that the research follows the ethical guidelines set by the journal, including referencing and authorship.
Ethical Manuscript Preparation [5]	Follow best practices for writing, including proper citation, avoiding plagiarism, and ensuring clear presentation of findings.

3. Key Considerations for GPP in Publication

Here are some essential elements to consider when implementing GPP

Always define an explicit research objective: it is crucial to know the research question and hypothesis before you start.
Data Transparency: Your data should be available and reproducible, and researchers should be able to access it to prove a point.
Disclose Conflicts of Interest: Researchers need to disclose any conflicts of interest, be they financial or non-financial, to mitigate any bias.
Peer Review Credibility: You should always be submitting your manuscript to a peer-reviewed journal or a journal that has a recognized peer-review process to ensure the review process is credible.

3.1. Best Practices

CONSORT Guidelines: Use CONSORT (Consolidated Standards of Reporting Trials) for clinical trials, so that reporting can be clear and transparent.
Pre-registration of Trials: Clinical trials should consider pre-registration when designing a study to avoid the selective reporting of positive outcomes of trials. [6]
Guidelines: Follow ethical standards as set out by COPE to help with both publication decision-making and the resolution of disputes

4. Common Challenges in Implementing GPP

Despite the benefits of GPP, implementing it in medical research and publication comes with challenges

Ignorance: Not every researcher is aware of existing GPP guidelines that guide the ethics of publication, and as a result, commits ethical violations.
Publish or Perish: There is often pressure on researchers to publish quickly, which results in them cutting corners and creating opportunities for misconduct.
Data Management: Being transparent about data and data management processes can be challenging when working with large data sets.

4.1. How to Overcome These Challenges

Education and Training: Normalising training activities for researchers and authors on GPP and ethical practices.
Institutional Support: Research institutions need to provide resources and policies aligned with GPP practices.
Peer Mentorship: Seasoned researchers can help less experienced researchers understand and follow ethical practices.

5. Benefits of Implementing GPP

Improved Research Credibility: Following GPP improves the credibility of your research findings.
Improved Trust: Using ethical guidelines improves trust among the readers, reviewers, and the scientific community.
Decreased Risk of Misconduct: GPP positively reduces the risks of typical ethical dilemmas such as data fabrication and plagiarism.

Conclusion

The implementation of GPP is a necessary process to preserve the integrity, transparency, and credibility of medical and scientific research. By adhering to the high-level components and best practices mentioned above, researchers can demonstrate that their work is conducted ethically and to the highest standards. GPP enhances the quality of research not only for the researchers themselves but for the whole scientific community, as it aids the progression of scientific knowledge in a responsible and ethical way.

How to Implement GPP in Medical Research and Publication? Our academic consultants are here to guide you. [Get Expert Publishing Support] or [Schedule a Free Consultation]

References

Anand, G., & Joshi, M. (2019). Good publication practice guideline 3: Evolving standards for medical writers. Perspectives in clinical research, 10(1), 4–8. https://doi.org/10.4103/picr.PICR_31_18
Hevner, A. R., Parsons, J., Brendel, A. B., Lukyanenko, R., Tiefenbeck, V., Tremblay, M. C., & vom Brocke, J. (2024). Transparency in design science research. Decision Support Systems, 182(114236), 114236. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.dss.2024.114236
Rowland, F. (2002). The peer‐review process. Learned publishing, 15(4), 247-258. https://doi.org/10.1087/095315102760319206
Navaneetha, C. (2011). Editorial policy in reporting ethical processes: A survey of “instructions for authors” in International Indexed Dental Journals. Contemporary Clinical Dentistry, 2(2), 84–87. https://doi.org/10.4103/0976-237X.83066
Medhekar, A., Gupta, A., Sonawane, S., & Singh, M. (2024). Preserving academic integrity in the age of AI: Ethical guidelines for medical manuscript preparation. Oral Oncology Reports, 11(100627), 100627. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.oor.2024.100627
Gray, R., Bressington, D., Thompson, D. R., & Jones, M. (2023). Why Pre-Registration of Research Must Be Taken More Seriously. Nursing reports (Pavia, Italy), 13(2), 679–681. https://doi.org/10.3390/nursrep13020060