Research
Evidence-Based Dentistry (2005) 6, 58–61. doi:10.1038/sj.ebd.6400347
Delay and failure to publish dental research
J M Scholey1 and J E Harrison1
1Department of Clinical Dental Sciences, Liverpool University Dental Hospital and School of Dentistry, Pembroke Place, Liverpool L3 5PS
Abstract
Objective
To investigate the incidence and time taken to full publication of abstracts presented at dental scientific meetings.
Design
A retrospective observational study.
Setting
All abstracts from the 1993 proceedings of the European Orthodontic Society (EOS) and European Organisation for Caries Research (ORCA) and a 10% random sample of abstracts from the International Association for Dental Research (IADR) conferences.
Methods
A cross-referenced Medline search of abstract title and authors was undertaken to determine whether abstracts had been published as full papers. Searches were censored 1 year prior to and 5 years post publication as an abstract. Publication rate was compared between abstracts presented orally and as posters.
Main outcome measures
Publication as a full paper and time taken to publication.
Results
546 abstracts were investigated. 252 abstracts (46.1%) were found as full reports. Median time to publication of all abstracts was 18 months (IQR 9, 30 months). 99 of the oral abstracts (57%) and 153 (41%) of the poster abstracts were published. Relative Risk Oral vs Poster=1.37 CI (1.19, 1.55).
Conclusion
More than half of the research presented at EOS, IADR and ORCA in 1993 remained unpublished 5 years after presentation at the conference. Oral presentations were published more frequently than poster presentations.
Keywords:
publication bias, time lag bias, abstracts
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