Re: The BMJ 2025: fortnightly in print, daily online
Dear Editor
A key benefit of printed journals is the likelihood that readers will browse other articles - possibly learning about “unknown unknowns” in medicine that may assist their clinical practice. Electronic journals focus the reader on articles they already know they want to read - at best improving their knowledge of “known unknowns”.
When specialisation threatens the integrity (and collegiality) of medical practice (with secondary impacts on patient care), keeping people reading journal articles outside their zone of comfort may be a key goal. Printed journals may be more important in this regard than we have understood to date.
Rapid Response:
Re: The BMJ 2025: fortnightly in print, daily online
Dear Editor
A key benefit of printed journals is the likelihood that readers will browse other articles - possibly learning about “unknown unknowns” in medicine that may assist their clinical practice. Electronic journals focus the reader on articles they already know they want to read - at best improving their knowledge of “known unknowns”.
When specialisation threatens the integrity (and collegiality) of medical practice (with secondary impacts on patient care), keeping people reading journal articles outside their zone of comfort may be a key goal. Printed journals may be more important in this regard than we have understood to date.
Competing interests: No competing interests