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Preprints: Finding & Using Preprints

This guide is intended for researchers in the health sciences who are considering posting or citing preprints. It provides an overview of what preprints are, how to share them responsibly, and how to evaluate them as part of the scientific literature.

 

Preprint Servers

bioRxiv 
Covers basic biomedical research (not
clinical). No peer review; lightly
moderated.


medRxiv
Widely used for clinical and public health
research. Performs basic screening for
ethics and trial registration


Open Science Framework (OSF) Preprints
Easy-to-use platform with free DOI
assignment. Covers a wide range
of disciplines. 


Preprints
Open-access platform with general
screening. Accepts work across scientific fields.


Social Science Research Network(SSRN)
Common in economics, law, and health
policy. Allows sharing of working
papers and early-stage research.


ASAPbio
a comprehensive and searchable
directory of preprint servers including
indexing, licensing, and screening policies

 

Why Use Preprints in Medicine?

  1. Accelerated Sharing of Research: In fast-moving fields like infectious disease, preprints help clinicians and researchers learn about potentially pivotal findings without waiting months for publication.

  2. Enhanced Visibility: Journals often have paywalls or take time to process submissions. Preprints offer open, immediate visibility, boosting your work’s impact.
  3. Early Feedback and Collaboration: Constructive public critique can help refine your methods or interpretations before submitting to a journal.
  4. Priority Claim: Establishing a timestamp can prevent others from publishing similar work without acknowledging your contribution.
  5. Additional Citations: Studies show that articles posted as preprints tend to gather more citations once formally published.

 

Best Practices and Ethical Considerations (authors & readers)

  • Cite Responsibly: If referencing preprints in medical research, clarify that the findings are not yet peer-reviewed.
  • Respect Patient Privacy: Ensure all patient data is de-identified to comply with HIPAA and other regulations.
  • Stay Updated: Keep track of peer-reviewed versions and link them when available.
  • Critical Appraisal: Both authors and readers should consider preprints as preliminary research.

 

If you are an author...

  • Authors should consider feedback on their preprint before they get around to submitting the manuscript.

  • Authors should disclose conflict of interest