Preprint Policy

The Critical Patient Journal (RDC) recognizes the value of preprints as an instrument for the rapid dissemination of scientific knowledge and the promotion of Open Science, encouraging the early sharing of research results without prejudice to the quality and rigor of the peer review process.

For the purposes of this policy, a preprint is  considered to be the full version of a scientific manuscript that is made publicly available on a preprint server  before the completion of the peer review process and formal publication in a scientific journal.

 

⮚      Submission of Manuscripts Previously Made Available as Preprints

RDC accepts the submission of manuscripts previously made available on preprint servers, provided that:

●        The existence of the preprint is expressly declared by the authors at the time of submission;

●        The name of the preprint server, the bibliographic reference, the persistent identifier (doi or equivalent), if any, and the link to the respective registry are indicated;

●        The submitted manuscript corresponds substantially to the scientific content available in the preprint, and any relevant changes are identified and justified.

The prior availability of a manuscript on a preprint server  does not constitute prior publication, redundant publication or secondary publication for the purposes of the RDC's editorial policies.

 

⮚      During the Editorial Process

Authors may keep the preprint available during the editorial process of the Journal.

If the manuscript is accepted for publication, authors are encouraged to update the preprint record, indicating that the article has been published in the Critical Patient Journal and adding the complete bibliographic reference and the respective DOI of the published version, when available.

 

⮚      Citation of Preprints

 Preprints may be cited when they are relevant to the scientific context of the manuscript.

Whenever a preprint is cited, it must be clearly identified as such in the reference list, indicating the server where it is deposited and its persistent identifier, if any.

Authors should bear in mind that preprints have not been subject to peer review and, for this reason, should be used with due scientific rigor and critical spirit.

 

⮚      Published Version

The version officially published by the Critical Patient Journal constitutes the reference version (Version of Record), prevailing over any versions previously made available as preprints.

Whenever possible, authors should establish a link between the preprint and the published version, contributing to the correct identification and traceability of the scientific record.

 

⮚      Editorial Commitment

This policy is aligned with the principles of Open Science, with the Recommendations for the Conduct, Reporting, Editing and Publication of Scholarly Work in Medical Journals of  the International Committee of Medical Journal Editors (ICMJE), with the guidelines of the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) and with international good practices in scientific publishing.

The existence of a preprint does not influence, positively or negatively, the editorial decision of the Journal, and all manuscripts remain subject to the same process of scientific evaluation and peer review adopted by the RDC.