Table 1 Glossary of terms

Survey [5]

Wikipedia [5] defines a survey as follows: ‘In research of human subjects , a survey is a list of questions aimed at extracting specific data from a particular group of people’.

Health sciences [6]

Wikipedia [6] defines ‘health sciences’ as ‘are those sciences which focus on health , or health care , as core parts of their subject matter. These two subject matters relate to multiple academic disciplines, (and as such) both STEM disciplines, as well as emerging patient safety disciplines (such as social care research ), and are both relevant to current health science knowledge.’

Honorary authorship

Refers to authorship assigned to individuals that should not have been included as authors of a publication, because they made no or insufficient contributions to qualify as authors.

ICMJE-defined criteria for authorship [7]

The ICMJE recommends that authorship is based on the following 4 criteria:

1) ‘Substantial contributions to the conception or design of the work; or the acquisition, analysis, or interpretation of data for the work; AND

2) Drafting the work or revising it critically for important intellectual content; AND

3) Final approval of the version to be published; AND

4) Agreement to be accountable for all aspects of the work in ensuring that questions related to the accuracy or integrity of any part of the work are appropriately investigated and resolved.’

ICMJE-based honorary authorship

The perception/opinion of the surveyee that that one or more of the co-authors did not meet the criteria for authorship of the ICMJE.

Perceived honorary authorship

The perception/opinion of the surveyee that one or more of the co-authors should not have been included as author(s) of a publication, because they made no or insufficient contributions to qualify as authors.

Review item 1: Researchers perceiving other co-author(s) as honorary author(s) on a publication

The perception/opinion of the surveyee that one or more of the co-authors should not have been included as author(s) of a publication, because they made no or insufficient contributions to qualify as authors.

Review item 2: Researchers having been approached by others to include honorary author(s) on a publication

The surveyee has been approached by others to include honorary author(s) on a publication.

Review item 3: Researchers admitting being an honorary author on a publication

Admitting by the surveyee that he/she should not have been included as an author of a publication, because he/she made no or insufficient contributions to qualify as an author.

Review item 4: Researchers admitting adding an honorary author(s) on a publication

Admitting by the surveyee that he/she has included honorary author(s) on a publication.

Review item 5: Researchers admitting having approached others to include honorary author(s) on a publication

Admitting by the surveyee that he/she has approached others to include honorary authors on a publication.