Integrity of Databases for Literature Searches in Nursing Avoiding Predatory Journals

The quality of literature used as the foundation to any research or scholarly project is critical. The purpose of this study was to analyze the extent to which predatory nursing journals were included in credible databases, MEDLINE, Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature (CINAHL), and Scopus, commonly used by nurse scholars when searching for information. Findings indicated that no predatory nursing journals were currently indexed in MEDLINE or CINAHL, and only one journal was in Scopus. Citations to articles published in predatory nursing journals are not likely found in a search using these curated databases but rather through Google or Google Scholar search engines.

Automated summary

The study aimed to analyze the presence of predatory nursing journals in databases commonly used by nurse scholars. It found that no predatory nursing journals were indexed in MEDLINE or CINAHL, and only one was in Scopus. Citations to articles from these predatory journals are more likely found through Google or Google Scholar searches rather than in curated databases.