WHAT IS ONLINEFIRST?

1. Definition of OnlineFirst

OnlineFirst is a feature that enables the publication of final revised articles online before their inclusion in a printed issue. This accelerates the dissemination of research findings and ensures that your authors' work reaches the audience promptly.

2. Benefits for the Journal and Stakeholders

For Authors:

Reduced lead times between article acceptance and publication.

Earlier visibility and potential for citations.

For Readers:

Access to the latest research in the field without waiting for the final issue.

Regular updates through email alerts.

For the Journal:

Increases usage, citations, and overall impact of published content.

Boosts the journal’s reputation as a timely and innovative publication.

3. Citing OnlineFirst Articles

Articles published through OnlineFirst are assigned a DOI upon their online posting. They should be cited as follows:

Example:

Author(s). Title of the article. Exercise and Quality of Life. Prepublished [Day, Month, Year]. DOI: [10.31382/preprints.XXXX].

After assignment to a final issue, citations can include the volume and page numbers in addition to the DOI.

4. Transition to Final Issue

Once articles are allocated to a specific issue, their hosting transitions from the OnlineFirst page to the main journal archive. The DOI ensures persistent accessibility.

5. Impact Factor Consideration

Citations to OnlineFirst articles are counted toward the journal's Impact Factor if other indexing criteria are met. This promotes earlier engagement with the published work.

6. Error Handling and Version of Record

OnlineFirst articles are considered final but not definitive until assigned to a specific issue. Errors identified in the online version can be corrected before the final issue publication.