The accuracy of reference lists in Acta Anaesthesiologica Scandinavica

Abstract

To determine the accuracy of bibliographic citation in Acta Anaesthesiologica Scandinavica, we reviewed all 1990 volumes and part of 1994 volumes of the journal and sequentially numbered all references appearing in those years (n = 2701 and 2158 in 1990 (No. 1-No. 8) and 1994 (No. 1-No.5), respectively). We randomly selected 100 references from each year. After citations of nonjournal articles were excluded, the remaining 195 citations were carefully scrutinized. Authors' names, article title, journal title, volume number, page numbers, and year were examined in each selected reference. A reference was deemed correct if each element of the citation was identical to its source. Of the examined references, 40% and 45% contained one or more errors in 1990 and 1994, respectively. The elements most likely to be inaccurate were, in descending order of frequency, article title, author, and page number. No significant differences existed in the error rate between the two years. We have found many citation errors in the reference lists of Acta Anaesthesiologica Scandinavica and no improvement in these latest four years. All contributors to Acta Anaesthesiologica Scandinavica should thoroughly check the accuracy of reference lists.