Misrepresentation of research citations by applicants to a primary care sports medicine fellowship program in the United States

Clin J Sport Med. 2008 May;18(3):279-81. doi: 10.1097/JSM.0b013e31816a1c65.

Abstract

Objective: To determine the prevalence of misrepresentation of publications and national presentations claimed in applications to the Maine Medical Center (MMC) Primary Care Sports Medicine Fellowship Program from 2001 through 2004.

Design: A retrospective chart review study.

Setting: The Maine Medical Center Primary Care Sports Medicine Fellowship Program.

Methods: Presentations were confirmed in the program of the cited meeting or by contacting the sponsoring organization. Publications were verified by performing a MEDLINE search or by cross-referencing in Ulrich's International Periodicals Directory. If the title was listed, the citation was verified by contacting the publisher.

Results: Fifty applicants reported research publications. Of those, 14 applications had publications that could not be verified. The overall misrepresentation rate was 11.3%; among applicants claiming publications it was 28%. There was no difference in misrepresentation rate between specialties. Eighteen applicants reported giving national presentations, and nine presentations could not be verified, corresponding to an overall misrepresentation rate of 5.6%. Of applicants claiming presentations, 38.9% had at least one misrepresentation.

Conclusion: Applicants to the Maine Medical Center Sports Medicine Fellowship Program were found to have high rates of misrepresentation in their citations of both publications and presentations.

MeSH terms

  • Deception*
  • Fellowships and Scholarships
  • Humans
  • Maine
  • Primary Health Care*
  • Publishing*
  • Research*
  • Retrospective Studies
  • Sports Medicine / education*
  • United States