Science Editing

Articles in E-pub version are posted online ahead of regular printed publication.

Original Article

Amount, cause, and citation frequency of retracted nursing publications from 1997 to 2024 in PubMed: a bibliometric study: Marlen Yessirkepov, Zhanat Togaibekova, Burhan Fatih Kocyigit, Ahmet Akyol; Received February 4, 2025 Accepted March 27, 2025 Published online April 30, 2025; DOI: https://doi.org/10.6087/kcse.368 [Epub ahead of print]

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Abstract PDF: Purpose
Retraction provides an opportunity to correct the literature by restricting the spread of incomplete, erroneous, or biased information among the scientific community. This study aimed to delineate the features of retracted publications in the nursing field.
Methods
This literature investigation identified all retracted nursing papers in PubMed. It included information on each paper’s title, authors, publication date, retraction date, journal, article category, corresponding author’s nationality, and rationale for retraction. Citation statistics were acquired from Scopus.
Results
After excluding publications not relevant to the field, 457 papers remained for further analysis from an initial pool of 866. The earliest retracted article appeared in 2007 (n=3), with the peak occurring in 2023 (n=359). The three predominant countries were China (n=398), the United States (n=9), and Iran (n=7). The primary grounds for retraction were peer review issues (n=395), fraud (n=353), and ethical concerns (n=130). The retracted publications accumulated a total of 1,659 citations, averaging 3.63 per article, with 909 citations (1.99 per article) recorded after retraction.
Conclusion
This study highlights that retractions of nursing-related publications are frequently linked to peer review challenges, fraud, and ethical concerns. A disproportionate number of retracted articles originated from China. Comprehensive peer review, ethical oversight, and fraud prevention are needed to preserve the integrity of nursing research.

Case Study

Accessibility, language, discipline, and indexing status of university journals that use Open Journal Systems in Indonesia: a case study: Maria Lamury, John Willinsky; Received January 16, 2025 Accepted February 18, 2025 Published online April 30, 2025; DOI: https://doi.org/10.6087/kcse.367 [Epub ahead of print]

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Abstract PDF: This case study examines the characteristics of university journals in Indonesia on the country’s most used platform, Open Journal Systems (OJS), following a decade of rapid growth in scholarly publishing. A sample of 558 journals, published by 93 Indonesian universities, was analyzed with a focus on four main aspects: accessibility, language, academic discipline, and indexing status. Based on OJS Beacon data, 96.7% of the journals offer free public access without requiring a login. Among the 539 open access journals in the sample, 51.8% were published in Indonesian, 28.5% in English, and 16.3% were bilingual. The most common academic disciplines include commerce, management, tourism and service, and studies of human society. National indexing services reveal that 78.9% are listed in Garuda, 25.2% possess Arjuna accreditation, and only 5.4% are ranked as Science and Technology Index (SINTA) 1 or 2. While 95.7% are indexed in Google Scholar, only one journal is found in Scopus and none in Web of Science. These findings highlight the influence of government policies on open access publishing and underscore ongoing efforts to balance national language usage with global academic communication. This comprehensive analysis provides insights into the evolving landscape of scholarly communication in Indonesia and informs future policy developments and international collaboration.

Correspondence

Will widespread use of artificial intelligence tools in manuscript writing mark the end of human scholarship as we know it?: Bor Luen Tang; Received February 23, 2025 Accepted March 10, 2025 Published online April 10, 2025; DOI: https://doi.org/10.6087/kcse.366 [Epub ahead of print]

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Original Articles

Evaluating North Korean academic medicine’s contributions to the international medical literature: a bibliometric study: Andrew Holzman, Yongbin Kim, Jaewoo Park, Douglas Rappaport; Received September 26, 2024 Accepted February 7, 2025 Published online April 10, 2025; DOI: https://doi.org/10.6087/kcse.365 [Epub ahead of print]

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Abstract PDF: Purpose
We analyzed the bibliometric characteristics of articles authored by individuals affiliated with North Korean medical education institutions indexed in PubMed, using an expanded search strategy to update prior studies.
Methods
Our search revealed both a significantly larger number of publications and a greater capacity for substantive research with international impact than previously reported. We reviewed 331 records, selecting 79 for inclusion. For each publication, we collected data regarding the involvement of North Korean patients as primary research subjects, research methods employed, international partnerships, study topics, the impact factor of the publishing journal, and the number of cross-referencing citations.
Results
We identified 10 publications presenting primary data from North Korean patients, 3 of which involved prospective, randomized clinical trials. North Korean authors frequently collaborated with international partners—primarily from China, though some partnerships involved institutions in Europe and North America—while 11 publications were authored solely by North Korean researchers. Surgery was the most common subject, appearing in 20 publications; however, these articles were cited infrequently (an average of 1.4 citations per publication). In contrast, research in dermatology and traditional medicine demonstrated higher impact (10 and 4.7 cross-citations, respectively).
Conclusion
Our study clarifies the network of partnerships between North Korean medical educators and international institutions. We propose that North Korea’s capacity to engage in research meeting international clinical science standards may be greater than previously acknowledged, particularly in the field of traditional medicine.

Vietnamese researchers’ knowledge, attitudes, and practices regarding open access publishing: a cross-sectional study: Trung Thanh Nguyen, Ngoc Thi Bich Tran, Thai Binh An Nguyen, Huong Giang Bui, Hiep Hung Pham; Received November 29, 2024 Accepted February 6, 2025 Published online April 2, 2025; DOI: https://doi.org/10.6087/kcse.364 [Epub ahead of print]

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Abstract PDF Supplementary Material: Purpose
This study aimed to explore Vietnamese researchers’ knowledge, attitudes, and practices regarding open access (OA) publishing.
Methods
A cross-sectional online survey was conducted between May and July 2024, gathering responses from 238 Vietnamese researchers across diverse universities and disciplines. Descriptive statistical analyses were used to identify key trends in knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors among different demographic groups.
Results
Vietnamese researchers primarily acquired information about OA through websites and colleagues, with ScienceOpen, PLOS, and SSRN serving as the main sources. Although they valued OA for its accessibility and broad dissemination, they expressed concerns regarding high publication fees and the quality of OA journals—particularly issues related to peer review rigor and potential risks to academic reputation.
Conclusion
The findings indicate strong support for OA publishing among Vietnamese researchers, despite ongoing concerns about high costs, journal credibility, and insufficient institutional support. Strengthening funding models, institutional advocacy, and quality assurance mechanisms is essential for building trust in OA and fostering a more inclusive scholarly environment.

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