Department of Gynecologic Oncology, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas 77030, USA.
Obstet Gynecol. 2012 Mar;119(3):504-8. doi: 10.1097/AOG.0b013e31824206e9.
Selection of physicians for fellowships in obstetrics and gynecology subspecialties has become increasingly competitive. The number and quality of research publications is an important factor in the selection process. We sought to estimate the incidence of unverifiable publications among gynecologic oncology fellowship applicants.
We reviewed the applications to a single gynecologic oncology fellowship program during 2004-2008. Articles and book chapters reported as published, in press, submitted, or in progress were searched for systematically by three reviewers using PubMed and Google. χ2 analysis was used to evaluate associations between demographic factors and unverifiable publications.
Two hundred forty-three applications met the inclusion criteria. Of the 35 applicants who listed membership in Alpha Omega Alpha, four (11%) were not listed on the organization's web site as inductees. Of the 464 articles reported as published or in press, only 387 (83%) could be verified. Of the 148 applicants who reported at least one published or in press article, 44 (30%) had at least one unverifiable publication. On multivariable analysis, only male gender increased the likelihood of unverifiable ("ghost") publications (odds ratio 2.1, 95% confidence interval 1.1-4.1). Of the 282 manuscripts reported as submitted or in progress, only 126 (45%) were published. Of the 124 applicants who reported at least one submitted or in progress manuscript, 88 (71%) had at least one unverifiable manuscript.
The proportion of unverifiable publications listed on gynecologic oncology fellowship applications is concerning. Stringent review of applications before interview invitations and match list submission is warranted.
妇产科专业奖学金的医师选择竞争日益激烈。研究出版物的数量和质量是选择过程中的一个重要因素。我们旨在评估妇科肿瘤学奖学金申请者中不可验证出版物的发生率。
我们回顾了 2004-2008 年期间一个妇科肿瘤学奖学金计划的申请。使用 PubMed 和 Google 由三名审查员系统地搜索报告为已发表、即将发表、已提交或正在进行的文章和书章节。χ2 分析用于评估人口统计学因素与不可验证出版物之间的关联。
243 份申请符合纳入标准。在列出 Alpha Omega Alpha 会员身份的 35 名申请人中，有 4 名（11%）未在该组织的网站上被列为入选者。在报告为已发表或即将发表的 464 篇文章中，只有 387 篇（83%）可以验证。在报告至少有一篇已发表或即将发表文章的 148 名申请人中，有 44 名（30%）至少有一篇不可验证的出版物。在多变量分析中，只有男性性别增加了不可验证（“幽灵”）出版物的可能性（优势比 2.1，95%置信区间 1.1-4.1）。在报告为已提交或正在进行的 282 篇手稿中，只有 126 篇（45%）发表。在报告至少有一篇已提交或正在进行的手稿的 124 名申请人中，有 88 名（71%）至少有一篇不可验证的手稿。
妇科肿瘤学奖学金申请中列出的不可验证出版物的比例令人担忧。在发出面试邀请和提交匹配名单之前，严格审查申请是有必要的。
