Critical Review: Journal of Clinical Medicine (JCM)

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

• 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)

• 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

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

• Extremely rapid peer review (~2–3 weeks) may undermine thoroughness
• Concerns exist about consistency and depth of reviewer feedback

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.