Critical Review: Journal of Clinical Medicine (JCM) [Neurosurgery Wiki]

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====== Critical Review: Journal of Clinical Medicine (JCM) ======

Journal of Clinical Medicine (JCM) is a peer-reviewed, open-access journal published by MDPI.

===== ✅ Strengths =====
  * Indexed in major databases: PubMed/PMC, Scopus, Web of Science (SCIE)
  * 2024 Impact Factor: ~2.9 (5-year IF ~3.3)
  * Q1 ranking in "Medicine, General & Internal"
  * Fast publication process:
    * First decision: ~17.7 days
    * Acceptance to publication: ~2.7 days
  * Accepts negative results, reducing publication bias
  * Transparent and publicly available peer-review reports (in some cases)

===== ⚠️ Areas of Concern =====

==== 1. Publisher Reputation (MDPI) ====
  * MDPI has been criticized for high-volume publishing and "special issue" overload
  * Accusations of "quasi-predatory" behavior and aggressive solicitation practices
  * Editorial oversight questioned in some circles

==== 2. Impact Factor Volatility ====
  * JCM’s IF has fluctuated (e.g., peaked at ~4.9, then dropped to ~3.0)
  * Potential reliance on high-citation review articles

==== 3. Peer Review Speed vs Rigor ====
  * Extremely rapid peer review (~2–3 weeks) may undermine thoroughness
  * Concerns exist about consistency and depth of reviewer feedback

===== 🧭 Summary =====

^ Strengths ^ Caveats ^
| Legitimate, indexed journal | Associated with MDPI's fast-publishing model |
| Q1 ranking, rising IF | Questionable peer-review depth in some cases |
| Transparent and open access | Academic perception varies by field |

===== 📝 Final Thoughts =====
JCM is a viable venue for rapid, open-access publication, especially when:
  * Publishing negative or confirmatory results
  * Requiring fast turnaround

However, for high-prestige or selective publication goals, more rigorous alternatives may be preferred.

Use case-by-case judgment: assess the editorial board, peer-review transparency, and relevance of special issues before submission.