The fate of neuroradiologic abstracts presented at national meetings in 1993: rate of subsequent publication in peer-reviewed, indexed journals. (25/2178)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Abstract presentations are a valuable means of rapidly conveying new information; however, abstracts that fail to eventually become published are of little use to the general medical community. Our goals were to determine the publication rate of neuroradiologic papers originally presented at national meetings in 1993 and to assess publication rate as a function of neuroradiologic subspecialty and study design. METHODS: Proceedings from the 1993 ASNR and RSNA meetings were reviewed. A MEDLINE search encompassing 1993-1997 was performed cross-referencing lead author and at least one text word based on the abstract title. All ASNR and RSNA neuroradiologic abstracts were included. Study type, subspecialty classification, and sample size were tabulated. Publication rate, based on study design and neuroradiologic subspecialty, was compared with overall publication rate. Median duration from meeting presentation to publication was calculated, and the journals of publication were noted. RESULTS: Thirty-seven percent of ASNR abstracts and 33% of RSNA neuroradiologic abstracts were published as articles in indexed medical journals. Publication rates among neuroradiologic subspecialty types were not significantly different. Prospective studies presented at the ASNR were published at a higher rate than were retrospective studies. There was no difference between the publication rate of experimental versus clinical studies. Neuroradiologic abstracts were published less frequently than were abstracts within other medical specialties. Median time between abstract presentation and publication was 15 months. CONCLUSION: Approximately one third of neuroradiologic abstracts presented at national meetings in 1993 were published in indexed journals. This rate is lower than that of abstracts from medical specialties other than radiology.  (+info)

Features of sales promotion in cigarette magazine advertisements, 1980-1993: an analysis of youth exposure in the United States. (26/2178)

OBJECTIVE: To examine the presence of features of sales promotion in cigarette advertising in United States magazines, and to describe trends in youth (ages 12-17) exposure to such advertising (termed "promotional advertising"). DESIGN: Analysis of 1980-1993 annual data on: (a) total pages and expenditures for "promotional advertising" (advertising that contains features of sales promotion) in 36 popular magazines (all magazines for which data were available), by cigarette brand; and (b) readership characteristics for each magazine. We defined promotional advertising as advertisements that go beyond the simple advertising of the product and its features to include one or more features of sales promotion, such as coupons, "retail value added" promotions, contests, sweepstakes, catalogues, specialty item distribution, and sponsorship of public entertainment or sporting events. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Total pages of, and expenditures for promotional advertising in magazines; and gross impressions (number of readers multiplied by the number of pages of promotional advertising) among youth and total readership. RESULTS: During the period 1980-1993, tobacco companies spent $90.2 million on promotional advertising in the 36 magazines. The proportion of promotional advertising appearing in "youth" magazines (defined as magazines with a greater than average proportion of youth readers) increased from 7% in 1980 to nearly 100% in 1987. Although youth readers represented only 19% of magazine readers, the proportion of youth gross impressions to total gross impressions of tobacco promotional advertising exceeded this value throughout the entire period 1985-1993, peaking at 33% in 1987. The five "youth" cigarette brands (defined as brands smoked by at least 2.5% of smokers aged 10-15 years in 1993) accounted for 59% of promotional advertising in all magazines, but for 83% of promotional advertising in youth magazines during the study period. CONCLUSIONS: In their magazine advertising, cigarette companies are preferentially exposing young people to advertisements that contain sales promotional features.  (+info)

Dear author--advice from a retiring editor. (27/2178)

This commentary, detailing the handling of a manuscript by the editor and guiding authors on preparing manuscripts and responding to reviews, provides parting advice to authors from a retiring editor. A close reading of this commentary will give some insight into the editorial process at the American Journal of Epidemiology through the observations of one of its editors.  (+info)

Publication trends of vegetarian nutrition articles in biomedical literature, 1966-1995. (28/2178)

We documented publication trends of vegetarian nutrition articles in biomedical literature between 1966 and 1995 using the National Institutes of Health MEDLINE bibliographic database. The publication rate of vegetarian articles increased steadily during the 3 decades, from an average of <10/y in the late 1960s to 76/y in the early 1990s. After adjusting for the total number of articles indexed in MEDLINE annually, we found that publication of vegetarian nutrition articles increased dramatically, by 4-fold, during the 1970s and reached an oscillating plateau during the 1980s. In the early 1990s, the proportion of vegetarian nutrition articles 8 articles per 1000 vegetarian nutrition articles and approximately 20 per 100000 articles indexed by MEDLINE. Non-nutrition journals have progressively published a larger share of all vegetarian articles in the biomedical literature during the period studied. The nature and study design of published vegetarian research has changed over the years as well. The proportion of original research and review articles increased whereas case series and letters to the editor decreased. Reports of epidemiologic studies of vegetarians with longitudinal designs have superseded cross-sectional designs in number and proportion. In 40% of all publications, preventive and therapeutic applications of vegetarian diets constituted the major themes of vegetarian articles in the decade of 1986-1995. However, 20 y earlier the main focus was on the nutritional adequacy of vegetarian diets. The progressive change in the themes of vegetarian nutrition publications is interpreted as a shift in the role of vegetarian diets in human nutrition.  (+info)

One editor's views on conflict of interest. (29/2178)

The purpose of this article is to discuss the importance of recognizing conflict of interest or bias situations in the peer review and publication process of research papers and to identify some important guidelines or policies that help to minimize these situations. Communication of thoughts, ideas, and information is the basis of how we function as a society. Communicating research results requires us to clearly and accurately communicate all aspects of the research process, including the appropriate interpretation of results. A working definition for conflict of interest or bias with regard to publishing research results is that conflict of interest is a situation in which personal benefit (either direct or indirect) takes priority over the clarity and(or) accuracy of reporting research. These situations are ethical issues and can represent either real or assumed situations. It is true that the review and publication process is not perfect; thus, some bias probably is always present and can be brought to the review and publication process by either the author or those responsible for the process. However, conflict of interest or bias that detracts from the objective evaluation of research or the integrity of a scientific journal is inappropriate. Conflict of interest or bias situations can occur at all levels of the review and publication process and should be dealt with on a factual basis. This article describes several situations as examples and several important guidelines that help minimize the occurrence of conflict of interest or bias.  (+info)

Health promotion research and the diffusion and institutionalization of interventions. (30/2178)

To examine the extent to which health promotion research is providing an empirical basis for the diffusion and institutionalization of effective interventions, we conducted a systematic audit of all articles in 12 public health and health promotion journals for the 1994 calendar year. We identified empirical/non-empirical and health promotion/non-health promotion articles. For each study, the health behaviours or outcomes studied, the target group, gender and setting were categorized. Each study was also categorized as belonging to one of four stages: basic research and development, innovation development, diffusion research, and research into institutionalization or policy implementation. Of all articles coded (n = 1210), 33.9% were identified as non-research, 39.5% were health promotion research and 26.6% were non-health promotion research. The vast majority of studies fell within the basic research and development stage (89.6%), with less than 1% categorized as diffusion research and only 5% as institutionalization or policy implementation research. The published studies reviewed provide a limited empirical basis for diffusion and institutionalization of health promotion programs. These findings suggest a need to more systematically monitor research input (funding) and research output (publications), and to develop a more explicit focus on the relevance of the stages of research innovation and development, the issues and/or behaviours addressed, the target population, and the research setting.  (+info)

Preparing manuscripts for submission to medical journals: the paper trail. (31/2178)

CONTEXT: Preparing a manuscript for publication in a medical journal is hard work. OBJECTIVE: To make it easier to prepare a readable manuscript. APPROACH: Start early--A substantial portion of the manuscript can be written before the project is completed. Even though you will revise it later, starting early will help document the methods and guide the analysis. Focus on high-visibility components--Pay attention to what readers are most likely to look at: the title, abstract, tables, and figures. Strive to develop a set of tables and figures that convey not only the major results but also the basic methods. Develop a systematic approach to the body of the paper--A standard framework can make it easier to write the introduction, methods, results, and discussion. An obvious organization with frequent subheadings and consistent labels makes the paper easier to read. Finish strong--Improve the paper by sharing it with others and by learning how to elicit and receive their feedback. Take the time to incorporate useful feedback by revising frequently.  (+info)

Small scientific journals from small countries: breaking from a vicious circle of inadequacy. (32/2178)

In this editorial we describe the confounding factors that contribute to the poor international recognition of small journals: author pool, review process, finances, language, and visibility. These factors originate from relative scientific inadequacy of the local environment and close a positive feedback loop (vicious circle) of journal inadequacy. We argue that small journals may provide important information and outline the ways in which they can be assisted.  (+info)