Authors report lack of time as main reason for unpublished research presented at biomedical conferences: a systematic review

Abstract

Objectives: To systematically review reports that queried abstract authors about reasons for not subsequently publishing abstract results as full-length articles.

Study design and setting: Systematic review of MEDLINE, EMBASE, The Cochrane Library, ISI Web of Science, and study bibliographies for empirical studies in which investigators examined subsequent full publication of results presented at a biomedical conference and reasons for nonpublication.

Results: The mean full publication rate was 55.9% [95% confidence interval (CI): 54.8%, 56.9%] for 24 of 27 eligible reports providing this information and 73.0% (95% CI: 71.2%, 74.7%) for seven reports of abstracts describing clinical trials. Twenty-four studies itemized 1,831 reasons for nonpublication, and six itemized 428 reasons considered the most important reason. "Lack of time" was the most frequently reported reason [weighted average = 30.2% (95% CI: 27.9%, 32.4%)] and the most important reason [weighted average = 38.4% (95% CI: 33.7%, 43.2%)]. Other commonly stated reasons were "lack of time and/or resources," "publication not an aim," "low priority," "incomplete study," and "trouble with co-authors."

Conclusions: Across medical specialties, the main reasons for not subsequently publishing an abstract in full lie with factors related to the abstract author rather than with journals.

Keywords: Conference abstract; Manuscript; Nonpublication; Publication; Publication bias; Selection bias.

Figure 1

PRISMA Flow Chart

Figure 2

Weighted average of reasons for not fully publishing the results reported in a conference abstract as recorded in 24 reports. The total number of reasons reported in all reports was 2,307. Each bar represents the weighted average with 95% confidence intervals of a specific type of reason. The number of reports that included a specific reason is noted within parenthesis.

Figure 3

Weighted average of the most important reason for not fully publishing the results reported in an abstract as recorded in 6 reports. The total number of reasons reported in all reports was 428. Each bar represents the weighted average with 95% confidence intervals of a specific type of reason. The number of reports that included a specific reason is noted within parenthesis.

Figure 4

Weighted average of the reason for non-publication as noted in 7 reports investigating reasons for not publishing the results of clinical trials. The total number of reasons reported in all reports was 322. Each bar represents the weighted average with 95% confidence intervals of a specific type of reason with number of reports including that reason. The number of reports that included a specific reason is noted within parenthesis. Not included in the graph was loss of support which was reported as 2 of 3 reasons from a single report.