How to choose a medical journal to publish an article?

Publishing in a medical scientific journal is essential to showcase your work and contribute to the advancement of healthcare practices. But with hundreds of journals available, how can you choose the right scientific journal to publish a medical article in 2025?

Between impact factor, target specialty, submission requirements, and indexing in databases like PubMed or Embase, several criteria must be analyzed before submitting your manuscript.

In this practical guide, discover the key steps and tips to help you select the most suitable medical scientific journal for your research.

Why Choosing the Right Medical Journal Is Essential

Your choice of journal determines:

• The visibility of your article within the medical and scientific community.
• The scientific and clinical impact of your results.
• The recognition and credibility of your medical research work.

An article published in an indexed and reputable journal benefits from optimized referencing in scientific databases, making it easier to cite and disseminate results.

5 Criteria for Choosing the Right Medical Scientific Journal

1. Analyze the Journal’s Impact Factor

The Impact Factor measures the average number of citations of articles published in a journal over a given period.

The higher it is, the more recognition and influence the journal has.

🔍 Examples of high-impact journals: The Lancet, JAMA, NEJM.

💡 Choose a journal with an impact factor that aligns with your field and the positioning of your research.

2. Target the Journal’s Specialty and Audience

It’s essential to publish in a medical journal that covers topics close to your subject:

• General medicine
• Medical and surgical specialties
• Public health and epidemiology
• Clinical or fundamental research

💡 Browse recent issues and published articles to validate editorial relevance.

3. Review the Author Guidelines and Editorial Policy

Each journal has specific rules for submitting a medical article:

• Article length
• Number of references
• Language of publication
• Types of articles accepted: case studies, literature reviews, clinical trials…

💡 Also make sure to check whether the journal is open access or subscription-based, and review the average manuscript processing times.

4. Check Indexing in Scientific Databases

Prioritize journals indexed in:

• PubMed / MEDLINE
• Embase
• Scopus
• Web of Science

This ensures optimal visibility of your medical article among researchers and healthcare professionals.

5. Consider Publication Fees (APCs)

Some journals, especially open access ones, charge Article Processing Charges (APCs).

These fees can be covered by institutional funding or research projects.

💡 Anticipate these costs and prioritize journals with no fees or those offering discounts for specific affiliations.

Beware of Predatory Journals in Health

Be cautious of predatory journals, which publish articles without rigorous peer review, in exchange for high fees.

They undermine the scientific credibility of your work and its indexing.

📌 Always verify the journal’s reliability through:

• Think. Check. Submit.
• DOAJ (Directory of Open Access Journals)

Integrate Scientific Monitoring to Better Target Your Journal

Setting up medical literature monitoring helps identify journals active in your field and spot those that regularly publish similar articles.

Tools like PaperDoc, PubMed Alerts, or ResearchRabbit make targeted monitoring easier and help refine your journal selection.

Summary: How to Choose Your Medical Scientific Journal

• Define the specialty and type of medical article
• Check the Impact Factor
• Review author guidelines
• Ensure indexing in medical databases
• Anticipate possible publication fees
• Avoid predatory journals