Abaid Lisa N, Grimes David A, Schulz Kenneth F
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of North Carolina School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27599-7570, USA.
Obstet Gynecol. 2007 Jun;109(6):1434-7. doi: 10.1097/01.AOG.0000266557.11064.2a.
Publication bias is the systematic, preferential publication of studies with statistically significant positive results over indeterminate studies (frequently, researchers inappropriately term these "negative" studies), or studies that show a statistically significant negative outcome. Over time, this practice distorts the medical literature, potentially compromising the validity of systematic reviews. Publication bias primarily stems from investigators, but data suppression can occur by pharmaceutical companies, universities, and regulatory agencies. Registration at inception of all clinical trials in a centralized, searchable database can reduce publication bias by enabling researchers to identify all studies related to a particular intervention. Prior attempts to encourage voluntary trial registration have been largely unsuccessful. Hence, the International Committee of Medical Journal Editors recently adopted a policy of mandatory clinical trial registration before consideration of manuscripts for publication. Trial registration and the development of comprehensive, computerized databases will promote transparency in research and help reduce publication bias.
发表偏倚是指系统地、优先发表具有统计学显著阳性结果的研究，而不是不确定的研究（研究人员常常不恰当地将这些研究称为“阴性”研究），或者是显示出统计学显著阴性结果的研究。随着时间的推移，这种做法会扭曲医学文献，可能损害系统评价的有效性。发表偏倚主要源于研究人员，但制药公司、大学和监管机构也可能进行数据压制。在一个集中的、可搜索的数据库中对所有临床试验进行初始注册，通过使研究人员能够识别与特定干预措施相关的所有研究，可以减少发表偏倚。此前鼓励自愿试验注册的尝试大多没有成功。因此，国际医学期刊编辑委员会最近采用了一项政策，即在考虑发表稿件之前强制进行临床试验注册。试验注册以及全面的计算机化数据库的开发将促进研究的透明度，并有助于减少发表偏倚。
