Scherer R W, Dickersin K, Langenberg P
Department of Epidemiology and Preventive Medicine, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore 21201.
JAMA. 1994 Jul 13;272(2):158-62.
To estimate the rate of full publication of the results of randomized clinical trials initially presented as abstracts at national ophthalmology meetings in 1988 and 1989; and to combine data from this study with data from similar studies to determine the rate at which abstracts are subsequently published in full and the association between selected study characteristics and full publication.
Ophthalmology abstracts were identified by review of 1988 and 1989 meeting abstracts for the Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology and the American Academy of Ophthalmology. Similar studies were identified either from reports contained in our files or through a MEDLINE search, which combined the textword "abstract" with "or" statements to the Medical Subject Headings ABSTRACTING & INDEXING, CLINICAL TRIALS, PEER REVIEW, PERIODICALS, MEDICAL SOCIETIES, PUBLISHING, MEDLINE, INFORMATION SERVICES, and REGISTRIES.
Ophthalmology abstracts were selected from the meeting proceedings if they reported results from a randomized controlled trial. For the summary study, similar studies were eligible for inclusion if they described followup and subsequent full publication for a cohort of abstracts describing the results of any type of research study. All studies had to have followed up abstracts for at least 24 months to be included.
Authors of ophthalmology abstracts were contacted by letter to ascertain whether there was subsequent full publication. Other information, including characteristics of the study design possibly related to publication, was taken from the abstract. For the summary study, rates of full publication were taken directly from reported results, as were associations between study factors (ie, "significant" results and sample size) and full publication.
Sixty-six percent (61/93) of ophthalmology abstracts were published in full. Combined results from 11 studies showed that 51% (1198/2391) of all abstracts were subsequently published in full. Full publication was weakly associated with "significant" results and sample size above the median.
Approximately one half of all studies initially presented in abstract form are subsequently published as full-length reports. Most are published in full within 2 years of appearance as abstracts. Full publication may be associated with "significant" results and sample size.
评估1988年和1989年在全国眼科学术会议上最初以摘要形式呈现的随机临床试验结果的完整发表率；并将本研究的数据与类似研究的数据相结合，以确定摘要随后被完整发表的率以及选定研究特征与完整发表之间的关联。
通过查阅视觉与眼科学研究协会和美国眼科学会1988年和1989年的会议摘要来识别眼科摘要。类似研究通过查阅我们档案中的报告或通过MEDLINE搜索来识别，该搜索将文本词“摘要”与医学主题词“摘要与索引”“临床试验”“同行评审”“期刊”“医学协会”“出版”“MEDLINE”“信息服务”和“注册”的“或”语句相结合。
如果眼科摘要报告了随机对照试验的结果，则从会议记录中选择。对于汇总研究，如果类似研究描述了一组描述任何类型研究结果的摘要的随访及随后的完整发表情况，则有资格纳入。所有研究必须对摘要进行至少24个月的随访才能纳入。
通过信函联系眼科摘要的作者，以确定是否有随后的完整发表。其他信息，包括可能与发表相关的研究设计特征，取自摘要。对于汇总研究，完整发表率直接取自报告结果，研究因素（即“显著”结果和样本量）与完整发表之间的关联也是如此。
66%（61/93）的眼科摘要被完整发表。11项研究的综合结果表明，所有摘要中有51%（1198/2391）随后被完整发表。完整发表与“显著”结果及中位数以上的样本量弱相关。
最初以摘要形式呈现的所有研究中，约有一半随后以全文报告形式发表。大多数在作为摘要出现后的2年内被完整发表。完整发表可能与“显著”结果和样本量有关。
