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  • Correspondence
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Reform performance assessments for clinicians in China to combat fake-paper factories

Nature Medicine volume 28, pages 1329–1330 (2022)Cite this article

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To the Editor — In recent years, the world’s largest source of scientific articles has come from China1. In 2000, around 3% of papers in English-language journals were published by authors from Chinese hospitals; in 2020, this increased to 7% (ref. 2). However, the massive retraction of academic papers from China has become a growing concern. For example, at least 370 papers were retracted between January 2020 and March 2021 by authors from Chinese hospitals, with sham papers produced by fake-paper factories identified as the major cause2. These retractions have attracted media criticisms and severe punishment from the relevant regulatory agencies3, but retractions from authors in Chinese hospitals have continued4. To understand this phenomenon and develop effective measures to minimize research misconduct in Chinese hospitals, we outline some historical reasons for the retraction of academic papers by clinicians, as well as challenges associated with the academic misconduct policy in China.

Since the call for science and technology to constitute a primary productive force by the Chinese central government in 1988 (ref. 5), the government research funds have grown immensely each year6. In the assessment system of research funding, the quantity and quality of academic publications, particularly those published in international journals, are counted. There are several reasons for specifying international journals. First, the quality of many Chinese medical journals needs further improvement compared to prestigious international journals7. Second, comparisons of research performance between different universities and between countries are largely based on publications in international journals. Third, for recognition as high-quality and internationally recognized universities, hospitals, and disciplines in China, international journals are regarded as the benchmark since local Chinese journals are inaccessible by most international readers.

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Author information

Author notes

  1. These authors contributed equally: Yu-Tao Xiang, Qinge Zhang, Na Zhao, Pan Chen.

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Public Health and Medicinal Administration, and Institute of Translational Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Macau, Macao, SAR, China

    Yu-Tao Xiang, Na Zhao, Pan Chen & Mei Leng Lam

  2. Centre for Cognitive and Brain Sciences, University of Macau, Macao, SAR, China

    Yu-Tao Xiang & Pan Chen

  3. Institute of Advanced Studies in Humanities and Social Sciences, University of Macau, Macao, SAR, China

    Yu-Tao Xiang & Pan Chen

  4. The National Clinical Research Center for Mental Disorders and Beijing Key Laboratory of Mental Disorders, Beijing Anding Hospital and the Advanced Innovation Center for Human Brain Protection, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China

    Qinge Zhang

  5. Center for Cognition and Brain Disorders, The Affiliated Hospital of Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou, China

    Na Zhao

  6. Institute of Psychological Sciences, Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou, China

    Na Zhao

  7. Kiang Wu Nursing College of Macau, Macau, SAR, China

    Mei Leng Lam

  8. Center on Smart and Connected Health Technologies, Mays Cancer Center, School of Nursing, UT Health San Antonio, San Antonio, TX, USA

    Zhaohui Su

  9. Department of Psychiatry, The Melbourne Clinic and St Vincent’s Hospital, University of Melbourne, Richmond, Victoria, Australia

    Chee H. Ng

Authors
  1. Yu-Tao Xiang
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  2. Qinge Zhang
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  3. Na Zhao
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  4. Pan Chen
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  5. Mei Leng Lam
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  6. Zhaohui Su
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  7. Chee H. Ng
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Contributions

Y.-T.X., Q.Z., N.Z. and P.C. conceptualized this Correspondence and its format; Y.-T.X. and M.L.L. drafted the text; Z.S. and C.H.N. made critical revision of the manuscript. All authors approved the final version.

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Yu-Tao Xiang.

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The authors declare no competing interests.

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Xiang, YT., Zhang, Q., Zhao, N. et al. Reform performance assessments for clinicians in China to combat fake-paper factories. Nat Med 28, 1329–1330 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41591-022-01830-2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41591-022-01830-2

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