BACKGROUND: With the associations between investigators and funding sources becoming increasingly complicated, conflicts of interest may arise that could potentially cause biases in the reporting of results. OBJECTIVE: To determine the number of published plastic surgery articles that lack reporting of disclosures. METHODS: An online review of four major North American plastic surgery journal publications from January 1, 2007 to December 31, 2007, was performed. For identification and to provide anonymity, journals were assigned a letter from A to D. RESULTS: Of the 1759 articles reviewed, 726 (41%) were included. Disclosure was not reported in 368 (51%) articles: Journal A (n=10, 3%), Journal B (n=153, 85%), Journal C (n=193, 93%) and Journal D (n=12, 32%). Journals differed significantly in their reporting of disclosure (P<0.01). CONCLUSION: In the plastic surgery journals reviewed, the lack of documentation of disclosures was frequent. To ensure identification of bias in plastic surgery publications, a section dedicated to disclosure statements is recommended for each published article.
BACKGROUND: With the associations between investigators and funding sources becoming increasingly complicated, conflicts of interest may arise that could potentially cause biases in the reporting of results. OBJECTIVE: To determine the number of published plastic surgery articles that lack reporting of disclosures. METHODS: An online review of four major North American plastic surgery journal publications from January 1, 2007 to December 31, 2007, was performed. For identification and to provide anonymity, journals were assigned a letter from A to D. RESULTS: Of the 1759 articles reviewed, 726 (41%) were included. Disclosure was not reported in 368 (51%) articles: Journal A (n=10, 3%), Journal B (n=153, 85%), Journal C (n=193, 93%) and Journal D (n=12, 32%). Journals differed significantly in their reporting of disclosure (P<0.01). CONCLUSION: In the plastic surgery journals reviewed, the lack of documentation of disclosures was frequent. To ensure identification of bias in plastic surgery publications, a section dedicated to disclosure statements is recommended for each published article.
Keywords:
Bias; Conflicts of interest; Disclosure; Plastic surgery; Publication
Authors: Karine Morin; Herbert Rakatansky; Frank A Riddick; Leonard J Morse; John M O'Bannon; Michael S Goldrich; Priscilla Ray; Matthew Weiss; Robert M Sade; Monique A Spillman Journal: JAMA Date: 2002-01-02 Impact factor: 56.272