Variability in article processing charges of open-access publishing across medical specialties.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Open-access (OA) journals provide public access to research but often impose a financial burden on researchers through article processing charges (APCs). The connection between APCs and indicators of journal prestige, such as journal impact factor (JIF), and their variation across medical specialties remains unclear. This study investigates how publication costs relate to journal prestige across diverse medical fields.

Methods

Data from 1,117 hybrid and OA journals across 29 medical specialties were compiled from Journal Citation Reports and journal websites. Pearson correlation coefficients between APCs and journal characteristics (JIF, journal citation indicator, citation counts, and percentage of OA publications) were calculated. Linear regression was used to a

SUBMITTER: Tocco EG 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12309987 | biostudies-literature | 2025

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature