Targeted literature searches are a fundamental part of writing clinical manuscripts that will meet the standards of high-quality journals and contribute meaningfully to evidence-based practice. When physicians write clinical manuscripts, utilizing a targeted literature search can identify high-quality, relevant, and current evidence. While a general literature review is useful, a targeted literature search is specific to the clinical question and should be completed through frameworks established, such as PICO (Population, Intervention, Comparator, Outcome) and PRISMA [1].

Open Access Publishing: What Authors Should Know Before Submitting

High-Impact Journals

Interesting topics

Open Access Publishing: What Authors Should Know Before Submitting

Table of Content
1. What Is Open Access Publishing
2. Open Access Journals and Their Comparison
3. Why Choose Open Access?
4. Important Considerations for Authors Before Submitting
5. Compliance with Funders and Institutional Policies
6. Common Open Access Myths Debunked
7. Tips for a Successful OA Submission
8. Conclusion

Open Access (OA) publishing has changed the landscape of scholarly communication by enabling everyone to access research for free. It has a significant impact on academic publishing, research dissemination, and open science. OA is fundamentally different than publishing based on paid subscriptions; with paid subscription publishing, readers or institutions must pay to view the content. For authors, it is essential to know the particulars of OA before submitting their work. This guide aims to provide essential information about OA publishing, so authors know where to start and how to navigate the process. publication supports can also assist authors through this process to ensure compliance and successful submission.[1]

1. What Is Open Access Publishing?

OA publishing enables free online access to research articles without the need for subscriptions. and thus increase the visibility of research, equity of knowledge, and access to science on a worldwide basis. There are several OA models, for example: [2]

Gold Open Access: The final published article can be freely accessed upon publication. Typically, an Article Processing Charge (APC) will be borne by the author, institution, or funder. Some examples would include PLOS One or BMC Public Health.
Green Open Access: Authors may publish in any journal while also depositing a version of the paper (either a preprint or a postprint) to an institutional or subject repository or disciplinary archive, possibly after an embargo period (e.g., arXiv, PubMed Central). May include an embargo period depending on publisher policy.
Hybrid Open Access: Journals that require a subscription will provide individual articles as open access if the author pays an article processing charge. The remainder of the journal content will not be available without a subscription. [3]
Diamond (or Platinum) Open Access: No fees for authors or readers. Journals are frequently subsidized by institutions, universities, scholarly societies, or grants. Considered the most equitable model because it removes barriers to entry and readership on both sides. Example: Many small academic society journals and university presses adhere to this model.
Bronze Open Access: Articles are available to read for free on the publisher’s website, though without a distinct open license (e.g., Creative Commons). Even though this often allows the editor or publisher to provide the paper free of charge, the article may not allow for reuse or further distribution. Some use is generally limited to temporary or publisher control.
Black Open Access (Unofficial / Shadow Access): This refers to illegal distribution of paywalled copies (e.g., via Sci-Hub). Not a legitimate OA model, but it’s sometimes discussed as part of OA literature to compare with formal versus informal access.
Delayed Open Access: Articles are made freely accessible on completion of an embargoed period (e.g., 6–12 months). Some publishers utilise this as a permissive compromise between a subscription and an OA model.

2. Open Access Journals and their comparison

Model	Access	Cost to Author	Notes
Gold	Free immediately	Often APC	Fully OA journal
Green	Free via repository	None	May have an embargo
Hybrid	Optional OA in subscription journal	APC	Mixed access
Diamond/Platinum	Free immediately	None	Funded by institutions
Bronze	Free to read, no license	None	Limited reuse rights
Delayed	Free after embargo	None	Publisher-set delay
Black (Informal)	Free but unauthorized	None	Not legal OA

3. Why Choose Open Access?

Publishing in an OA format has many benefits, which is why an increasing number of researchers, institutions, and funding agencies are beginning to prefer OA. [4]

Broadening Visibility and Citations: Research indicates that open-access articles are shared, downloaded, and cited more than articles published behind subscription paywalls. When the research is free and obvious, it increases visibility of the research results, contributes to citation impact, and increases overall academic visibility at a global scale.
Tells social impact: Publishing in open-access journals means the research is available not only to academics but to policymakers, practitioners, educators, and the public. This fosters knowledge transfer, can foster evidence-based policy, and can create an enhancement of public engagement with science and scholarship.
Complying with funder and institutional open access requires: A growing number of research funders and government agencies provide grants with open access publishing conditions to ensure future public access to tax-funded research. Being compliant with funding agency and institution requirements for OA publishing can increase future eligibility for research grant funding and research collaboration.
Faster and broader dissemination: (This is an optional item, but I recommend this as a point to include.) When researchers publish research in an open-access medium, they are providing access to immediate and global dissemination of their research study when it is available. As a result, it is the quickest pace for scientific discovery and scientific innovations across different dimensions when access is unlimited by paywalls.

Together, the benefits of OA publishing are a strategic option for researchers serious about the impact and a strategic option to advance professionalism and transparency.

4. Important Considerations for Authors Before Submitting

4.1. Journal Selection

Selecting the appropriate OA journal is crucial. Authors must consider: [5]

Peer Review Process	Verify that the journal has a rigorous peer review process to ensure the quality of the research.
Journal Reputation	Check if the journal is indexed in recognized databases such as PubMed, Web of Science, or Scopus.
Publisher’s Credibility	Be cautious of predatory publishers that do not demonstrate openness or take advantage of OA fees.
Journal Impact Factor or Metrics	Although not the only indicator of quality, these metrics can inform your choice of journal.

Careful journal selection helps authors maintain publication ethics and avoid predatory publishers.

4.2. Article Processing Charges (APCs)

Many Open Access journals charge Article Processing Charges (APC) to cover publishing costs. Therefore, it is critical for authors to: [6]

Know the Costs of APCs: Fees can start from a few hundred and go as high as several thousand dollars.
Check for Waivers or Discounts: Some journals may offer waivers based on country of origin or due to financial hardship.

It can also be helpful to think about whether your institution provides any support. Some universities (or funders) have agreements in place that may cover APCs (as well as other publication costs).

4.3. Copyright and Licensing

OA publishing can involve different copyright arrangements:

- Creative Commons Licenses: Most open-access articles use CC licenses, for example, CC BY, which allows for reuse of the paper and attribution.
- Author Rights: Some publishers will allow authors to retain copyright; others require rights to keep the copyright.
- Reusing Content: If you hope to share or adapt the work in some manner, review the licensing terms closely.

5. Compliance with Funders and Institutional Policies

Mandates: Some funders, such as NIH, Wellcome Trust, and others, have required the publication to OA.
Repository Deposits: Some policies require a manuscript deposit to a repository within a certain time frame.
Reporting and Documentation: Keep proof of compliance for funder audits.

6. Common Open Access Myths Debunked

Myth	Reality
OA journals are of low quality.	Many OA journals have high standards and impact factors comparable to traditional journals.
OA publishing is free for authors.	While readers don’t pay, authors often pay APCs, though waivers exist.
OA articles have no copyright protection.	Most OA works use clear licenses protecting author rights.

7. Tips for a Successful OA Submission

To increase the visibility, credibility, and impact of your OA publication while maximising its potential, consider the following best practices before submitting your research article:

Familiarise yourself with the journal’s Author Guidelines: Review all requirements, including submission requirements, formatting, data sharing policy, and acceptable ethical standards. Following the journal guidelines will help ensure the peer review and publication process is smoother.
Anticipate Article Processing Charges (APCs): Many OA journals will require APCs as a means of covering the costs of publication. Think ahead and anticipate the need for funds in your research budget, or even consult with your institution or funders for support of the Open Access APC funds.
Verify journal indexing and reputation: Verify that it has some sort of indexing recognisability like Scopus, Web of Science, PubMed, etc., and that it is credible in your specific area of research. Indexing enhances discoverability and subsequently raises the potential visibility of your research article.
Ensure peer review standards are appropriate, while also avoiding predatory journals. A reputable journal typically has a transparent peer review process and is likely listed in a reputable directory, such as DOAJ, which ensures that your work avoids predatory practices and supports academic integrity.
Use a preprint server to raise early visibility: Upload your manuscript to a preprint server (such as arXiv, PsyArXiv, or SocArXiv) to share your findings with the research community before formal publication. This enhances research dissemination, encourages feedback, and boosts early citations.

Strong publication ethics and awareness of peer review process standards help ensure research integrity and credibility in OA publishing.

Connect with us to explore how we can support you in maintaining academic integrity and enhancing the visibility of your research across the world!

Conclusion

OA Publishing presents considerable benefits for authors, including broader exposure and adherence to funder requirements. Authors should think critically of journals, costs, licensing, and policies before submitting work. By making good publishing decisions, authors can increase the attention their work receives while avoiding common pitfalls encountered by authors altogether. Professional publication supports ensure that authors navigate OA publishing efficiently, ethically, and successfully.

Open Access Publishing: What Authors Should Know Before Submitting. Our Pubrica consultants are here to guide you. [Get Expert Publishing Support] or [Schedule a Free Consultation]

References

Open access publishing and resources. (2015, August 19). Georgetown.edu. https://guides.dml.georgetown.edu/openaccess/NIHOpenAccess
Quaia, E., Zanon, C., Vieira, A., Loewe, C., & Marti-Bonmatí, L. (2024). Publishing in open-access journals. Insights into imaging, 15(1), 212. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13244-024-01794-6
Björk B. C. (2017). Growth of hybrid open access, 2009-2016. PeerJ, 5, e3878. https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.3878
Logullo, P., de Beyer, J. A., Kirtley, S., Schlüssel, M. M., & Collins, G. S. (2024). Open access journal publication in health and medical research and open science: benefits, challenges, and limitations. BMJ evidence-based medicine, 29(4), 223–228. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjebm-2022-112126
Ramia J. M. (2023). How to select a journal for your research. World journal of gastroenterology, 29(21), 3379–3384. https://doi.org/10.3748/wjg.v29.i21.3379
Solomon, D., & Björk, B. C. (2016). Article processing charges for open access publication-the situation for research-intensive universities in the USA and Canada. PeerJ, 4, e2264. https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.2264