BMJ Open

BMJ Open is a peer-reviewed, fully open access medical journal from the BMJ Publishing Group, launched in 2011. It focuses on transparency, inclusivity of research types, and continuous publication.

• Publisher: BMJ Publishing Group
• Established: 2011
• Scope: Broad — includes clinical trials, observational studies, protocols, negative results, and meta-analyses
• Access: Fully open access (CC BY or CC BY-NC licenses)
• Indexing: MEDLINE, PubMed Central, Scopus, Web of Science
• Impact Factor (2023): ~2.4

• Open Access & Transparency
  • All articles are freely available.
  • Publishes peer reviewer names, reports, and manuscript history for accepted articles.
• Inclusivity
  • Accepts a wide range of study designs, including protocols, feasibility studies, and null findings.
• Efficient Dissemination
  • Continuous publication model allows for rapid post-acceptance publishing.
• Reputable Publisher
  • Part of the BMJ family, benefiting from professional editorial standards.

• Moderate Impact Factor
  • Not seen as highly prestigious in academic promotion or grant contexts.
• Review Process Variability
  • Mixed reviews on review speed and quality (reports of long delays up to 35 weeks).
• Cost
  • Article processing charge (APC) of approx. $2,160 may be prohibitive for some authors.
• Open Peer Review Caveats
  • Reviewer identities disclosed only for accepted papers, limiting accountability in rejected submissions.

• Best for: Protocols, negative results, observational studies, pilot trials.
• Avoid if: Seeking high-impact publication for promotion/tenure purposes.
• Note: Open peer review is progressive, but imperfect in implementation.

BMJ Open is a reliable venue for authors prioritizing visibility, methodological transparency, and inclusivity. While it doesn’t carry the prestige of top-tier journals, it fulfills an essential role in disseminating quality science that might otherwise be unpublished.