Table 2 Definitions of common terms used in this manuscript

Authorship agreement

A statement provided to all authors of a publication prior to initiating publication development that explains the rights, roles, responsibilities and expectations of each of party to manuscript development (for example, authors, study sponsors, professional medical writers, translators etc.)

Disclosures

Statements made by authors that provide full context to how their research is being presented, generally describing factors that could potentially be perceived as influencing their interpretation of their research

Encore presentation

Presentation of data at a conference that is similar to data presented at an earlier conference

Gift authorship

Authorship granted to an individual who does not meet the ICMJE authorship criteria as a means of expressing gratitude to an individual or with the expectation of a receiving something of value in return

Guest authorship

Authorship granted to an individual who does not meet the ICMJE authorship criteria often in an attempt to leverage the reputation or standing of the individual, for example, to increase the perceived quality and/or profile of a publication

Honorary authorship

Authorship granted to an individual who does not meet the ICMJE authorship criteria out of respect for that individual

Publications

The full range of formats published in peer-reviewed journals (for example, original research articles, short reports, reviews, or letters to the

editor) [2], as well as conference abstracts and presentations

Publication plan

Plans for communicating research, including information such as the timing of submitting publications (both to conferences and peer-reviewed journals), selection of conferences and journals and proposed authors for each publication, among other relevant information

Publication professional

Professional medical writers, publication planners, and publication managers, usually working either in or for companies [2]

Regional publication plan

A publication plan that is developed with the aim of communicating research to an audience within a geographic scope

Stakeholder

Any person or company who has an interest in the publications process, such as an author or study sponsor