When choosing which journal to approach a number of factors should be considered such as topic area, your experience as an author, publication cost and impact factor.
Costs
Publication costs are an important factor in deciding where to publish and should be considered during the planning stage of a project. Essentially three cost models exist:
Open access publication may be necessary as part of a funding agreement of the research grant or chosen to increase access internationally. However open access should not necessarily be a default option as NHSScotland has subscriptions to a large number of journals.
Impact factors
A journal's impact factor is a measure of its relative effectiveness - i.e. how often are article published in that journal cited by other published article. You can usually find this information on the journal homepage or check services like Journal Citations Reports or Insights if you have a subscription - a helpful video on finding a journal's impact factor using Journal Citations Reports is available on YouTube.
Local considerations
Take advice from experts and academics about where to publish and what are the different metrics including local bibliometrics. Check if the journal is available on The Knowledge Network which would ensure your colleagues can easily access your article.
Some examples are listed below but it is worth exploring the website of your preferred publisher.
| BMJ | A full range of resources for authors:
They also offer an eLearning service as part of the Research to Publication project. Modules include:
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| Biomed | Lots of helpful guidance on writing to publish. Be sure to look at the full menu on the left-hand side of page. |
| Elsevier | Published a downloadable pdf on "How to publish in scholarly journals" |
| A wealth of knowledge for aspiring authors including:
The Emerald rep for Scotland is willing to run webinars on getting published – with a focus on topics like practitioners getting research published, and how to avoid predatory publishers. |
| The Author and Reviewer tutorials are a series of free e-learning modules designed for anybody seeking an overview or a refresher on topics related to getting their work published. Topics include:
Knowledge Check: An interactive quiz gives users a chance to test what they have learned. Free Takeaway: Users can download a helpful free PDF summary of important content at the end of the course, which can be easily printed. How to use the tutorials: These tutorials can serve as great resources for a scientific publishing workshop or an author symposium. The free takeaways at the end of each tutorial also work perfectly as giveaways. |
| Wiley | Provides a complete overview of the publishing process including
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For practice examples, case studies, preliminary results of research etc professional magazines or newsletters, often linked to professional organisations offer a useful option and an alternative to publishing in a peer reviewed journal. They are a useful outlet for new, inexperienced authors to ‘cut their teeth’ in the world of publishing. These types of publications often have a wider readership than research journals. Examples of these publications include:
Dietetics Today
Guidelines in Practice
Healthcare Executive magazine
Health Services Journal
HFMA Leadership Magazine
Obs, Gynae & Midwifery News
Pulse
Nursing Times
Although not peer reviewed, the guidance and hints in the ‘Writing your article’ section are still relevant.