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Publication of results policy

1: Purpose

This policy outlines the requirement for all publications resulting from research conducted within the OpenSAFELY Service to be formally reviewed prior to publication or dissemination. It contains the following sections for reference:

  • Purpose
  • Scope
  • Policy requirements 

2: Scope

Approval must be sought for any publication or wider sharing of results, paper, presentations (e.g. submitting to a journal or a pre-print server, or uploading to any public facing website). If you make changes to your artefact (e.g. manuscript, slides presentation) once it has been approved then the new version must be resubmitted for publication approval.

N.B. The Clinical Datapast Function, which forms a core part of the publication approval process,  is currently being updated: this policy reflects the interim process, where Bennett Institute staff will conduct reviews, whereas the intention is that the GP profession will take this over in due course.

3: Policy requirements 

All artefacts must be formally reviewed, prior to publication or dissemination. These reviews are currently conducted by the Bennett Institute and Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC).

Artefact(s) submitted for review must be at least 90% complete, but the results and conclusion must be final. The process for submitting artefacts for review is described on the OpenSAFELY website.

Artefacts should follow the Contributorship and Content Guidance, to ensure that the OpenSAFELY Service, funders, and data custodians are recognised and accurately described. 

Artefacts will be independently reviewed by two members of the Bennett Institute, who will provide feedback for consideration by the Project Lead, which may include suggested amendments or identify where the artefact may benefit from further clarification. 

The project lead must respond to this feedback, and submit updated artefacts to the Bennett Institute. They may decline to make any suggested changes, but must confirm that they have received the feedback and consider the artefacts to be “final”.

The artefact(s) will then be submitted to DHSC for formal approval to publish/disseminate.

Version: 3.0
Last updated: 19 January 2026