Misrepresentation of publications among radiation oncology residency applicants.

Publication/Presentation Date

4-1-2006

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: Authorship misrepresentations have been described for residency and fellowship applications for various medical specialties. This study assessed the prevalence of misrepresented publications in radiation oncology residency applications.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: The authors reviewed 117 applications to their residency program for a single 2004 position offered through the National Resident Matching Program. Publications listed on the applications were verified for accuracy, with the results and applicants' demographic information recorded.

RESULTS: A total of 49 applicants (42%) claimed authorship of published research citations. The number of published citations averaged 3.6 per applicant (range, 1-23). Of the applicants reporting citations, 22% (11 of 49) listed inaccurate citation information. Overall, 9% of the citations (15 of 174) were considered misrepresentations, with 9% of the total number of applicants (11 of 117) responsible for inaccurate bibliographies. There was a significant relationship of United States Medical Licensing Examination score with publication misrepresentation, in which those with scores of 235 or greater who listed publications were more than 7 times more likely to have inaccurately listed citations (odds ratio, 7.67; 95% confidence interval, 1.12-52.31; P = .04).

CONCLUSION: The misrepresentation of bibliographic citations does exist among radiation oncology residency applicants. Using a comprehensive search, the authors found that 22% of those who had listed at least 1 article had misrepresented publications on their applications.

Volume

3

Issue

4

First Page

259

Last Page

264

ISSN

1558-349X

Disciplines

Medicine and Health Sciences

PubMedID

17412057

Department(s)

Fellows and Residents

Document Type

Article

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