Opinion Paper

Addressing inequities in the otolaryngology academic publishing: A call to action

Sarah Nuss, Rolvix H. Patterson, Mary J. Xu, Amina Seguya, Valerie Salano, Nader Zalaquett, Samuel Okerosi, Bethany Hedt-Gauthier, Johannes Fagan
Journal of the Colleges of Medicine of South Africa | Vol 2, No 1 | a64 | DOI: https://doi.org/10.4102/jcmsa.v2i1.64 | © 2024 Sarah Nuss, Rolvix H. Patterson, Mary J. Xu, Amina Seguya, Valerie Salano, Nader Zalaquett, Samuel Okerosi, Bethany Hedt-Gauthier, Johannes Fagan | This work is licensed under CC Attribution 4.0
Submitted: 30 January 2024 | Published: 11 June 2024

About the author(s)

Sarah Nuss, Global OHNS Initiative, Durham, United States of America; and, Warren Alpert Medical School, Brown University, Providence, United States of America
Rolvix H. Patterson, Global OHNS Initiative, Durham, United States of America; and, Department of Head and Neck Surgery and Communication Sciences, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, United States of America
Mary J. Xu, Global OHNS Initiative, Durham, United States of America; and, Department of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, University of California, San Francisco, United States of America
Amina Seguya, Global OHNS Initiative, Durham, United States of America; and, Department of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Mulago National Referral Hospital, Kampala, Uganda
Valerie Salano, Global OHNS Initiative, Durham, United States of America; and, Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Nyahururu County Hospital, Nyahururu, Kenya
Nader Zalaquett, Global OHNS Initiative, Durham, United States of America; and, American University of Beirut, Beirut, Lebanon
Samuel Okerosi, Global OHNS Initiative, Durham, United States of America; and, Department of Otolaryngology, Machakos Level Five Hospital, Machakos, Kenya
Bethany Hedt-Gauthier, Department of Global Health and Social Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Boston, United States of America
Johannes Fagan, Global OHNS Initiative, Durham, United States of America; and, Division of Otolaryngology, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa

Abstract

Article processing charges (APCs) for open access (OA) journals perpetuate inequities in scientific knowledge. High APCs systematically restrict low- and middle-income country (LMIC) researchers from contributing to research knowledge, preventing the dissemination of high-value, high-quality, and sustainable LMIC-driven solutions. Otolaryngology journals are no exception. The authors propose solutions to rectify the inequities in academic publishing because of APCs, including innovative solutions adopted by several major journals. Addressing these inequities requires medical society and journal editorial board leadership to ensure equitable APC policies.


Keywords

global surgery; global otolaryngology; research equity; article processing charges; open access

Metrics

Total abstract views: 739
Total article views: 451


Crossref Citations

No related citations found.