Cunningham Andrew R, Kimple Adam J, Peach M Sean
Brody School of Medicine East Carolina University Greenville North Carolina USA.
UNC Department of Otolaryngology University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Chapel Hill North Carolina USA.
OTO Open. 2025 Sep 16;9(3):e70158. doi: 10.1002/oto2.70158. eCollection 2025 Jul-Sep.
To evaluate the clarity of retraction notices in otolaryngology journals and examine the relationship between retraction notice clarity and improper post-retraction citations.
A retrospective analysis of retracted articles in otolaryngology journals from journal inception to August 1, 2024.
Articles were selected from leading otolaryngology journals with citation data retrieved from major academic databases.
Retracted articles were identified using the Retraction Watch Database. Citation patterns were analyzed through Google Scholar and Scopus. Retraction notices were evaluated for adherence to Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) guidelines. The study included 80 retracted articles, with 1398 citations in Google Scholar and 714 in Scopus. Primary outcomes included the proportion of retraction notices meeting COPE guidelines and the rate of improper post-retraction citations.
Retraction notices adhered to COPE guidelines in 52.5% of cases (N = 42). Among 80 retracted articles, only 42.5% were labeled as retracted across all platforms. Alarmingly, 98.2% of citations that occurred after articles were retracted did not acknowledge their retracted status. Clearer retraction notices correlated with fewer improper citations. Proper labeling across all platforms led to a 52.89% reduction in citation rates, whereas any missing labels resulted in only a 28.72% reduction.
Clarity in retraction notices significantly impacts improper citation rates. Standardized, prominently displayed retraction notices adhering to ethical guidelines can reduce misinformation. Strengthening retraction practices and improving database integration are recommended to enhance the effectiveness of retractions and maintain scientific integrity.
评估耳鼻喉科期刊撤稿通知的清晰度，并探讨撤稿通知清晰度与撤稿后不当引用之间的关系。
对耳鼻喉科期刊自创刊至2024年8月1日撤回的文章进行回顾性分析。
从主要耳鼻喉科期刊中选取文章，并从主要学术数据库中检索引用数据。
使用撤稿观察数据库识别撤回的文章。通过谷歌学术和Scopus分析引用模式。评估撤稿通知是否符合出版伦理委员会（COPE）的指导方针。该研究包括80篇撤回的文章，谷歌学术中有1398次引用，Scopus中有714次引用。主要结果包括符合COPE指导方针的撤稿通知比例以及撤稿后不当引用率。
52.5%的案例（N = 42）中撤稿通知符合COPE指导方针。在80篇撤回的文章中，所有平台上只有42.5%被标记为撤回。令人担忧的是，文章撤回后98.2%的引用未注明其撤回状态。更清晰的撤稿通知与较少的不当引用相关。所有平台上的正确标注使引用率降低了52.89%，而任何缺失标注仅使引用率降低了28.72%。
撤稿通知的清晰度对不当引用率有显著影响。遵循道德准则的标准化、显著展示的撤稿通知可以减少错误信息。建议加强撤稿实践并改善数据库整合，以提高撤稿的有效性并维护科学诚信。
