Difficulty in detecting discrepancies in a clinical trial report: 260-reader evaluation
Author(s)
Type
Journal Article
Abstract
Background: Scientific literature can contain errors. Discrepancies, defined as two or more statements or results that cannot both be true, may be a signal of problems with a trial report. In this study, we report how many discrepancies are detected by a large panel of readers examining a trial report containing a large number of discrepancies. Methods: We approached a convenience sample of 343 journal readers in seven countries, and invited them in person to participate in a study. They were asked to examine the tables and figures of one published article for discrepancies. 260 participants agreed, ranging from medical students to professors. The discrepancies they identified were tabulated and counted. There were 39 different discrepancies identified. We evaluated the probability of discrepancy identification, and whether more time spent or greater participant experience as academic authors improved the ability to detect discrepancies. Results: Overall, 95.3% of discrepancies were missed. Most participants (62%) were unable to find any discrepancies. Only 11.5% noticed more than 10% of the discrepancies. More discrepancies were noted by participants who spent more time on the task (Spearman’s ρ = 0.22, P < 0.01), and those with more experience of publishing papers (Spearman’s ρ = 0.13 with number of publications, P = 0.04). Conclusions: Noticing discrepancies is difficult. Most readers miss most discrepancies even when asked specifically to look for them. The probability of a discrepancy evading an individual sensitized reader is 95%, making it important that, when problems are identified after publication, readers are able to communicate with each other. When made aware of discrepancies, the majority of readers support editorial action to correct the scientific record.
Date Issued
2015-06-01
Online Publication Date
2015-06-01
Date Acceptance
2015-04-09
ISSN
1464-3685
Publisher
Oxford University Press (OUP)
Start Page
862
End Page
869
Journal / Book Title
International Journal of Epidemiology
Volume
44
Issue
3
Copyright Statement
© The Author 2015. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the International Epidemiological Association
This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution Non-Commercial License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/), which permits non-commercial re-use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited. For commercial re-use, please contact journals.permissions@oup.com
This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution Non-Commercial License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/), which permits non-commercial re-use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited. For commercial re-use, please contact journals.permissions@oup.com
Source Database
web-of-science
Sponsor
British Heart Foundation
British Heart Foundation
British Heart Foundation
Grant Number
FS/10/38/28268
FS/12/12/29294
FS/14/27/30752
Subjects
Science & Technology
Life Sciences & Biomedicine
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Peer review
retraction of publication
clinical governance
patient safety
STEM-CELL THERAPY
NONCARDIAC SURGERY
EJECTION FRACTION
HEART-FAILURE
BETA-BLOCKADE
METAANALYSIS
REVIEWERS
IMPROVEMENT
GUIDELINES
DAMASCENE
Adult
Clinical Trials as Topic
Data Accuracy
Female
Humans
Male
Peer Review
Retraction of Publication as Topic
Statistics as Topic
Young Adult
0104 Statistics
1117 Public Health And Health Services
Epidemiology
Publication Status
Published