Open Pharma's PLSP playbook

Resources for authors

Taylor & Francis author guidelines

This 10-page PDF provides guidance on formatting, submission and publication of PLSPs at Taylor & Francis journals. It includes a list of Taylor & Francis journals that accept PLSPs, a submission checklist, writing tips and links to helpful external resources.  

Taylor & Francis FAQs

Part of the Taylor & Francis plainlanguagesummaries.com website, this page includes answers to frequently asked questions about what PLSPs are, how they differ from PLS, and how to develop PLSPs.  

Sage author guidelines

This webpage provides information about writing PLS-Ps for publication in Sage journals. It includes links to external resources with additional guidance on involving patients as authors.   

 

Becaris Publishing author guidelines

This webpage provides guidance for authors wishing to publish a PLSP in the Journal of Comparative Effectiveness Research.  

Resources for publishers

Maximizing patient engagement with PLSPs

In this article, Rachel Jenkins, Johanna Todd and Olivia Alexander share their experiences introducing PLSPs at Taylor & Francis, and explain how they addressed challenges related to discoverability, building trust and translations.  

Publishing PLSP as standalone articles

In this poster, Joanna Walker and Laura Dormer share their experience introducing PLSPs at Future Science Group journals (now part of Taylor & Francis), the first publisher to offer standalone plain language summaries of publications. 

Resources for reviewers

Taylor & Francis peer review guidelines

This webpage provides guidance for peer reviewers on how to review a PLSP, particularly regarding the appropriateness of its language and format for the intended readership.  

Becaris Publishing reviewer guidelines

This webpage explains why PLSPs should be reviewed and provides guidance for peer reviewers on the points to consider when reviewing a PLSP. 

Peer-reviewed guidance

A practical 'how-to' guide

This practical guide offers authors and funders clear guidance on involving patients in the co-creation of PLS. It includes a step-by-step breakdown of the PLS development process, with best practice recommendations for each stage. 

Open Pharma PLS recommendations

These recommendations from Open Pharma outline simple guidelines authors can use to create and share abstract-style PLS. Many of the recommendations also apply to the development of standalone PLSPs.  

Envision PLS of publications toolkit

PLS of publications toolkit

This toolkit – developed by Envision in collaboration with Patient Focused Medicines Development (PFMD) – includes multiple downloadable designed to support authors, writers, funders and reviewers of PLSPs.  

Template for PLSPs

This 2-page PDF outlines the structure of a PLSP, highlights key content that should be included, and provides formatting and style tips to enhance readability.  

Cover sheet for patient reviewers

This form should be used by authors to give patient reviewers the key information they will need to inform their review of a PLSP.   

PLS glossary guide

This is a living list of free-to-access glossaries that can be used by authors to guide them when writing in plain language.  

 

PLS evidence biblography

This document outlines the guidelines and evidence used to inform the development of the Envision PLS of Publications Toolkit.  

Quality control checklist

This checklist can be used by authors, reviewers, funders and publishers to assess the quality of a PLSP in terms of accuracy, adherence to plain language principles and alignment with journal guidelines. 

 

Datavision metrics for PLS

This guide outlines four key metrics that can be used to measure the value of PLS and PLSP, including guidance on how to track these metrics in Datavision.  

Why should sponsors fund PLSP?

A one-page factsheet outlining how PLSPs add real value to evidence dissemination and why they warrant funding by commercial sponsors. 

 

Coversheet for sponsor reviewers

This form should be used by authors to give sponsor reviewers the key information required review a PLSP.

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