Learn the problems with biomedical journals and proposals to improve them.
Summary Points:
The evidence base underpinning clinical practice is deeply flawed.
There must be better value gained from resources invested in medical research.
We make four proposals: (1) introducing publications officers; (2) developing core competencies for editors and peer reviewers, around which (3) training can be tailored; and (4) training authors to write articles fit for purpose.
All of these ideas need to be piloted and evaluated, and implemented if proven effective.
We suggest dedicated funding for initiatives aimed at understanding and improving the way that research is conducted and published.
Academic institutions, funders, publishers, and others should support and implement effective processes to improve the reliability of the medical research literature.
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