Bridges of perspectives: representation of people with lived experience of spinal cord injury in editorial boards and peer review

Research Integrity and Peer Review

Research

Tanya Barretto¹  Alaa Yehia¹  Judy Illes¹  Anna Nuechterlein¹ 

[1]Neuroethics Canada, Division of Neurology, Department of Medicine, University of British Columbia, 2211 Wesbrook Mall, Koerner S124, V6T 2B5, Vancouver, BC, Canada

关键词: Spinal cord injury;    Editorial review;    Research integrity;    Inclusivity;    Peer review;   

DOI  :  10.1186/s41073-023-00138-0

 received in 2023-04-19, accepted in 2023-08-10,  发布年份 2023

来源: Springer

【 摘 要 】

BackgroundDiversity among editorial boards and in the peer review process maximizes the likelihood that the dissemination of reported results is both relevant and respectful to readers and end users. Past studies have examined diversity among editorial board members and reviewers for factors such as gender, geographic location, and race, but limited research has explored the representation of people with disabilities. Here, we sought to understand the landscape of inclusivity of people with lived experience of spinal cord injury specifically in journals publishing papers (2012–2022) on their quality of life.MethodsAn open and closed 12-question adaptive survey was disseminated to 31 journal editors over a one-month period beginning December 2022.ResultsWe received 10 fully completed and 5 partially completed survey responses (response rate 48%). Notwithstanding the small sample, over 50% (8/15) of respondents indicated that their journal review practices involve people with lived experience of spinal cord injury, signaling positive even if incomplete inclusivity practices. The most notable reported barriers to achieving this goal related to identifying and recruiting people with lived experience to serve in the review and editorial process.ConclusionsIn this study we found positive but incomplete trends toward inclusivity in journal practices involving people with lived experience of spinal cord injury. We recommend, therefore, that explicit and genuine efforts are directed toward recruitment through community-based channels. To improve representation even further, we suggest that editors and reviewers be offered the opportunity to self-identify as living with a disability without discrimination or bias.

【 授权许可】

CC BY   
© BioMed Central Ltd., part of Springer Nature 2023

【 图 表 】

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