Favouring Responsible Publishing: Creating a Database of Researchers and Surveying Their Knowledge, Attitudes and Opinions towards Open Access Publishing and a New Field-Specific Journal

Introduction: There may be value to understanding the interests and needs of a journal’s audience, particularly regarding open access publishing (OAP) and behaviours associated with predatory publishing while establishing a new field-specific journal. As a new journal facing potential challenges in the publishing space, the Journal of Natural Health Product Research (JNHPR) undertook a stakeholder and community feedback initiative on publishing research in the field of natural health products (NHPs). This is the first study, to our knowledge, where academic representatives of the journal used this method to examine the knowledge, attitudes, and opinions of its potential audience. Methods: A database of international researchers in the NHP field was built using publicly available online data. Most NHP researchers (n= 1892) were identified by a keyword-based, systematic search, with additional researchers discovered through snowball sampling. A survey was then developed and distributed to all identified researchers to collect their knowledge, attitudes, and opinions about OAP in general and the JNHPR. Results: One hundred sixty-seven NHP researchers completed the survey where most were familiar with OAP and preferred the OAP model over a subscription-based journal. Additionally, responses indicated that OAP is a polarizing subject with both positive and negative perceptions. Positives included wider circulation and the potential for shorter publication times, while negatives included the potential for less rigorous peer-review standards and generally higher costs. Regardless of perceptions on OAP, impact factor, reputation, scope, and indexing were the most valued factors in choosing a journal for submission.Discussion: According to the survey results, as a new field-specific journal, the JNHPR would benefit the NHP research community greatly, connecting NHP researchers globally. The journal succeeds in two areas: its broad scope, which attracts NHP researchers from a variety of disciplines, and its rapid publishing time. Indexing and further reduced publication fees for developing nations were mentioned as areas in need of improvement. Conclusions: This approach may be useful to researchers who wish to launch their own journal in the future to gain a better understanding of their potential audience’s knowledge, attitudes, and opinions, allowing them to better engage and provide for their audience.