Table 1 Included studies in accordance with inclusion and exclusion criteria

Abu-Zaid, 2019 [35]

Development of ‘advisory peer review board’ by medical graduate to aid in dissemination of medical student research in ‘mainstream’ journals.

82 ‘student authors’.

Setting and nationality not specified ^a.

Intervention “reduced the likelihood” of students publishing in predatory journals.

Alamri et al., 2020 [31]

Survey of students to identify (amongst other outcomes) awareness of predatory journals.

198 medical students from Saudi Arabia (61.6% female).

65 medical students from New Zealand (64.6% female).

Minority of students from both countries familiar with the term ‘predatory journal’ (9.1% Saudi Arabia vs. 7.8% New Zealand).

7/31 publications by students were in predatory journals.

Ashour & Funjan, 2022 [32]

Survey of students information literacy, including impressions and attitudes towards predatory publishers.

195 medical students from Jordan (56.9% female).

20% of students would read contents of a journal article without verifying its reliability (i.e., predatory or non-predatory).

Kabulo et al., 2022 [33]

Survey of knowledge, exposure to, and intention to submit to predatory journals.

101 neurosurgeons from multiple countries in Africa.

28/101 (27.7%) students.

No impact of professional level (consultant/resident/student) upon rate of publishing in predatory journals.

2/28 (7%) of students would submit to predatory journals ^b.

Nicolalde et al., 2022 [34]

Survey of scientific literacy, including ability to identify concept of a predatory publisher.

770 medical students from Latin America (63.6% female).

243 (31.6%) correctly identified characteristics of predatory journals.