Journal indexation and predatory publishing: Publication literacy considerations for family medicine clinicians in Malaysia – A narrative perspective

ABSTRACT

Introduction: Family medicine clinicians rely on published literature for clinical decision-making while facing growing expectations to publish for career progression and postgraduate training requirements. Although journal indexation is often used as a proxy for journal quality, this assumption is misleading given the rise of predatory publishing and evolving digital technologies. This narrative perspective discusses publication literacy considerations for family medicine clinicians in Malaysia, drawing primarily on general scholarly publishing guidance.
Methods: Guidance from indexing organisations and publication ethics bodies was considered alongside selected scholarly literature and Malaysian resources. Discussion was organised around indexation, journal metrics, deceptive publishing practices and practical training. Information sources included Web of Science, Scopus, the National Library of Medicine, the Directory of Open Access Journals, the Committee on Publication Ethics, the International Committee of Medical Journal Editors and materials from Think. Check. Submit.
Results: Web of Science, Scopus and the Malaysian Citation Index have different coverage and purposes; their inclusion decisions do not guarantee article quality. Quartiles describe relative citation performance within a specified category and year. Indexing and metric claims should be checked through official sources alongside editorial policies, fees and journal suitability. General evidence about predatory publishing and artificial intelligence cannot establish the extent of these problems among Malaysian family medicine clinicians.
Conclusion: Publication literacy can be incorporated into family medicine research training through supervised journal comparisons, documented verification before submission and collaboration with medical librarians. These proposed practices require evaluation in Malaysian postgraduate and departmental settings.