When it comes to accessing up-to-date research, a barrier for many clinicians not associated with a large organization is cost. Many academic journals are pay-to-access. These subscriptions can be costly, in the hundreds of dollars per year for a single journal. Some publishers sell access to single articles for up to $50 per article. Without the support of a university or library, potentially important research information can be well out of reach of clinicians. Open-access (OA) journals, however, are free to read. OA is an international movement that provides scientific articles and research information online at no cost. OA journals generally comply with the same rigorous peer review processes as other journals in order to maintain a high standard of publishing. Many OA journals also have fewer or no copyright restrictions compared to conventional journals. Although OA journals are free to the reader, they often require fees for authors to publish their works. A valuable resource for the public, OA journals provide a gateway for clinicians to learn about information that could impact patient care.
The International Journal of Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork (IJTMB) is an open-access journal specifically aimed at massage therapy-related topics. The journal publishes quarterly issues with articles about massage research, education, and practice. Many articles are contributed to by clinicians who want to share their knowledge with other clinicians and researchers. Read the latest issue and archives at www.ijtmb.org
To learn more about OA, you can watch the video below: