Physicians' and Pharmacists' Awareness, Exposure, and Perception Regarding Predatory Solicitations at a Mother-Child Teaching Hospital.

OBJECTIVE

Predatory journals and conferences frequently target researchers through unsolicited emails, exploiting the pressure to publish by offering rapid dissemination at the expense of scientific rigor and ethical standards.

METHODS

This descriptive cross-sectional study targeted all members of the hospital's Council of Physicians, Dentists, and Pharmacists, including residents in these fields. A 24-item questionnaire was developed and distributed electronically.

RESULTS

A total of 140 physicians and pharmacists participated in the study. No responses were received from dentists. A majority, 93% (130/140), reported having presented posters at conferences and 91% (127/140) reported having published scientific articles. Overall, 59% (82/140) of the respondents reported being aware of the phenomenon of predatory solicitations, but only 14% (20/140) were familiar with Beall's list of predatory journals, and 16% (23/140) had used tools to verify the integrity or legitimacy of a journal. Two-thirds of respondents (94/140) reported that they had received predatory solicitations by email. Only 1% (2/140) reported presenting a poster at a conference, later identified as predatory, while 6% (9/140) reported that they had published in a predatory journal.

CONCLUSIONS

Physicians and pharmacists at the study hospital were exposed to predatory solicitations. The results underscore the urgent need for targeted education and awareness initiatives to safeguard scientific integrity within the pediatric community.