Retractions in Rehabilitation and Sport Sciences Journals: A Systematic Review

Abstract

Objective: To identify the characteristics of retracted publications in rehabilitation and sport sciences journals.

Data sources: The Web of Science, PubMed, and Retraction Watch databases were searched from inception to August 2019.

Study selection: Retracted publications published in rehabilitation or sport sciences journals, indexed in the Science Citation Index Expanded (SCIE) and Social Sciences Citation Index (SSCI) were included.

Data extraction: One author extracted the data. Two other authors checked the data.

Data synthesis: A total of 37 and 52 retracted publications and their retraction notices were identified for rehabilitation and sport sciences, respectively. The majority of retracted publications (68% of all retracted papers in rehabilitation and 54% of all retracted papers in sport sciences) were published in the past decade. Retracted publications in rehabilitation and sport sciences were published in 21 and 22 different journals and originated from 18 and 21 different countries, respectively. The full-text of the retracted publications was available with a retraction watermark or note for 59% of cases in rehabilitation and 58% in sport sciences. The reasons for the retractions were more often attributed to misconduct (79% and 61%) than to honest error (21% and 39%) in rehabilitation and sport sciences, respectively. However, a reason was not stated for 15% of the publications. The median time interval between publication and retraction was 622 days in rehabilitation and 607 days in sport sciences publications.

Conclusions: The total number of retracted publications in rehabilitation and sport sciences journals was small. The retracted publications have been published in a variety of rehabilitation and sport sciences journals and came from different countries across the world. Several retracted publications and retraction notices failed to adhere to The Committee on Publication Ethics guidelines in the handling of full-text (retain with a watermark or note) or stating the underlying reasons for the retraction.

Keywords: Ethics; Physical and rehabilitation medicine; Plagiarism; Rehabilitation; Retracted publication; Retraction of publication; Scientific misconduct; Sports medicine.