Reference accuracy in the emergency medicine literature

Abstract

Study objective: To determine the incidence and nature of errors in the citation and quotation of references contained in the emergency medicine literature.

Design: A retrospective analysis of a random sample of articles and references found in the three major emergency medicine journals.

Setting: A university/county hospital.

Methods: We examined single issues of three emergency medicine journals: Annals of Emergency Medicine, Journal of Emergency Medicine, and American Journal of Emergency Medicine.

Interventions: None.

Measurements: Four independent reviewers assessed 145 references from 46 referring authors for citational and quotational accuracy.

Main results: Major and minor citation errors were found in 10.3% and 17.2% of reference listings, respectively. Qualitative quotational errors were found in 35.2% of references. Eighty-two percent of these errors were considered to be major. Quantitative quotational errors were found in 47% of references reviewed. Secondary rather than primary reference sources were used in 41.4% of references reviewed.

Conclusion: This study demonstrates a substantial error rate in the citation and quotation of reference sources in the emergency medicine literature. In addition, verification of primary source material was not done by a large percentage of the authors reviewed. Recommendations for improving the accuracy of the emergency medicine literature are offered.