Honoring Authorship Responsibilities in Manuscript Preparation

Authorship of an article published in a peer-reviewed journal is important academic and scientific achievement. It contribution to the health science literature prestigious accomplishment for authors. But that achievement also requires accountability responsibility carries authors’ names. Over recent years, increasing number manuscripts received by this Journal have been disorganized poorly written on submission. Many these list authors co-authors who are well-published scholars. Such unfortunately risk rejection, as reviewers may miss worthwhile while wading through unclear text. This concerning, not only because loss potentially valuable science, but authorship mentoring integral component scholarship. Substantial contributions conception or design work; acquisition, analysis interpretation data AND (2) Drafting work revising it critically intellectual content; (3) Final approval version be published; (4) Agreement accountable all aspects ensuring questions related accuracy integrity any part appropriately investigated resolved. note must meet 4 criteria considered author. For someone add their name manuscript has fact met each one widely accepted requirements unethical. journals, including JMWH, require author verify writing they publication process. If individual's does criteria, person can formally acknowledged cannot listed No doubt, many, if most, familiar with believe them. In our view, however, latter 2 often seem unmet. When disorganized, unclear, lacking accurate up-to-date content submission, seems improbable authors, especially those seasoned scholars, read approved recognize work. some circles, appears customary remotely involved drafting names without providing much input oversight during Honorary guest was once more common practice academia4 now deemed inappropriate even unethical.5-7 Nonetheless persist. Some opined view drafting, revision, submission being first author's responsibility. Still others think learning process students left own learn how produce publishable manuscript. These valid acceptable practices scholarly publication. cede alone, little collaborative effort, when senior do provide necessary ensure meets minimum publication, end result reviewers, editors suffer. business teaching next generation researchers addition one's full participation sets example. Junior mentored colleagues should placed position questioning whether authorship; power dynamics such situation too unbalanced. And absence experienced scholars first-authored junior faculty could seen abdicating presumed mentorship. disservice worked project rejection poor quality. Submission unpolished draft creates unreasonable burden review editing Peer expected sort order thoughtful, cogent review. As true many nursing JMWH longstanding commitment help novice midwife revise into article. However, editor's job write someone's them, co-author team. The producing belongs whose submissions slight respected, journals assumption reflective quality articles journal. We varied. Consortia Advancing Standards Research Administration Information (CASRAI) developed informal yet taxonomy this. 8 named ICMJE before submitting consider final Senior wish allow organized editors, rather mentorship needed suitable appropriate, ethical, courteous authorship.