Academic publisher Taylor & Francis has introduced Plain Language Summaries of Publications (PLSPs) – peer-reviewed, open access articles tailored for non-specialist readers, ensuring that a wider audience can benefit from recent research discoveries. Patients, policymakers, caregivers, and primary care physicians now have an avenue to stay updated on the latest medical research articles through easily comprehensible and jargon-free summaries.
While many Taylor & Francis journals already encourage authors to provide plain language summaries alongside their research papers, the new PLSPs stand as distinct, standalone articles offering more space to delve into the significance of published research. These summaries also have the capacity to include graphics, video, and audio content to enhance understanding. In a unique approach, researchers are encouraged to collaborate with co-authors who are patients or caregivers, thereby bridging the gap between scientific language and the broader public.
Published as open access, PLSPs enhance discoverability and ensure that anyone interested can access the research summary. Each PLSP comes with its own DOI (Digital Object Identifier) and can summarize research articles from various peer-reviewed journals, subject to relevant permissions.
With a growing portfolio of over 340 Medical and Healthcare journals, Taylor & Francis recently announced its support for Open Pharma, an initiative dedicated to enhancing the transparency, accountability, accessibility, and discoverability of published research.
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