Open Access and Article Processing Charges in Cardiology and Cardiac Surgery Journals: a CrossSectional Analysis

Abstract

Introduction Open access (OA) publishing often requires article processing charges (APCs). While OA provides opportunities for broader readership, authors able to afford APCs are more commonly associated with well-funded, high-income country institutions, skewing knowledge dissemination. Here, we evaluate publishing models, OA practices, and APCs in cardiology and cardiac surgery. Methods The InCites Journal Citation Reports 2019 directory by Clarivate Analytics was searched for “Cardiac and Cardiovascular Systems” journals. Sister journals of included journals were identified. All journals were categorized as predominantly cardiology or cardiac surgery. Publishing models, APCs, and APC waivers were defined for all journals. Results One hundred sixty-one journals were identified (139 cardiology, 22 cardiac surgery). APCs ranged from $244 to $5,000 ($244-5,000 cardiology; $383-3,300 cardiac surgery), with mean $2,911±891 and median $3,000 (interquartile range [IQR]: $2,500-3,425) across 139 journals with non-zero available APCs ($2,970±890, median $3,000, IQR: $2,573-3,450, cardiology; $2,491±799, median $2,740, IQR: $2,300-3,000, cardiac surgery). Average APCs were $3,307±566 and median $3,250 (IQR: $3,000-3,500) for hybrid journals ($3,344±583, median $3,260, IQR: $3,000-3,690, cardiology; $2,983±221, median $2,975, IQR: $2,780-3,149, cardiac surgery) and $1,997±832 and median $2,100 (IQR: $1,404-2,538) for fully OA journals ($2,039±843, median $2,100, IQR: $1,419-2,604, cardiology; $1,788±805, median $2,000, IQR: $1,475-2,345, cardiac surgery). Waivers were available for 51 (86.4%) fully OA and 37 (37.4%) hybrid journals. Seventeen journals were fully OA without APCs, one journal did not yet release APCs, and four journals were subscription-only. Conclusion OA publishing is common in cardiology and cardiac surgery with substantial APCs. Waivers remain limited, posing barriers for unfunded and lesser-funded researchers.

Equitable Open Access Publishing: Changing the Financial Power Dynamics in Academia

“…However, few create means to support authors who are not funded by research grants, their institutions, or institutional agreements. 3,4 Those that do should be commended for taking this step, especially given how rare such genuinely equitable OA models are.To date, a majority of journals remain hybrid, allowing both subscription-based publishing (i.e., not OA, no APCs to publish) and an OA option (i.e., freely accessible for readers, but APCs to publish). For example, in the fields of cardiology and cardiac surgery, 60.9% of journals are hybrid.…”

“…However, few create means to support authors who are not funded by research grants, their institutions, or institutional agreements. 3 , 4 Those that do should be commended for taking this step, especially given how rare such genuinely equitable OA models are.…”

“…For example, in the fields of cardiology and cardiac surgery, 60.9% of journals are hybrid. 4 Although this may appear a sensible approach, hybrid journals rarely provide waivers or considerable discounts to authors who cannot afford such APCs, which typically range from a few thousand US dollars to a staggering US$11,000. 5 In addition, hybrid journals have median APCs of up to 50% higher compared to fully OA journals, as observed in cardiovascular journals (median US$3,250 (interquartile range, IQR: US$3,000–US$3,500) for hybrid journals vs. a median US$2,100 (IQR: US$1,404–US$2,538) for fully OA journals).…”

“…5 In addition, hybrid journals have median APCs of up to 50% higher compared to fully OA journals, as observed in cardiovascular journals (median US$3,250 (interquartile range, IQR: US$3,000–US$3,500) for hybrid journals vs. a median US$2,100 (IQR: US$1,404–US$2,538) for fully OA journals). 4 Some hybrid journals consider requests for waivers on a case-by-case basis; this is commonly decided based on the first or corresponding author's country affiliation. Authors from low- or middle-income countries (LMICs) and/or with affiliations in LMICs deservedly tend to be favored, although they are not always successful in obtaining a waiver or discount.…”

“…At large, only 37.4% of hybrid cardiovascular journals provided any form of waiver or discount. 4 Along the same lines, fully OA journals do not provide a subscription-only alternative, completely sidelining those unable to afford APCs and unable to obtain a waiver.…”