A low-impact publication is a scientific article that contributes minimally to the advancement of knowledge, clinical practice, or methodological innovation, often due to poor design, limited novelty, or lack of rigorous analysis.

A low-impact publication is a study or report that offers little to no meaningful addition to its field, typically characterized by weak evidence, limited relevance, or excessive redundancy with existing literature.

• Small sample size with no statistical power
• No hypothesis or exploratory aim
• Redundant case reports or procedural notes
• Overinterpretation of minor findings
• Published in journals with limited peer review or poor editorial standards
• Short follow-up and lack of clinical endpoints
• Disconnected from broader research or evidence-based frameworks

• Saturates the scientific literature with noise
• Obstructs systematic reviews and meta-analyses
• Wastes resources (time, indexing, peer review)
• Rewards academic volume over quality
• Undermines trust in scholarly communication

• “We treated 2 patients with Method Z. No complications occurred. We recommend its use.”
• “Case report of a common condition with no novel presentation, diagnostic approach, or management strategy.”

• Academic dilution
• Journal padding
• Technical anecdote
• Predatory publishing
• Publication inflation