Guest Editorial: Preprint and Publish-Ahead-of-Print

"Two publication methods, publish-ahead-of-print (PAP) and preprints, are now routinely being used to make case reports and research claims visible to clinicians, journalists, and policymakers prior to formal publication in a journal issue and, in the case of preprints, before peer review. These publication modalities can significantly decrease the time between manuscript completion and availability to readers, a feature that is especially consequential in high-stakes, time-sensitive clinical environments such as emergency care. Their growing use in publication raises questions about research quality and data interpretation, the strength of recommendations from cases of note, and the equity of access to manuscripts."