Universität zu Köln

Baethge, Christopher ORCID: 0000-0001-6246-3674 and Jergas, Hannah ORCID: 0000-0003-3041-1583 (2025). Systematic review and meta-analysis of quotation inaccuracy in medicine. Research Integrity and Peer Review, 10 (1). pp. 1-10. Springer Nature. ISSN 2058-8615

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Abstract

[Artikel-Nr.: 13] Background: Quotations are crucial to science but have been shown to be often inaccurate. Quotation errors, that is, a reference not supporting the authors’ claim, may still be a significant issue in scientific medical writing. This study aimed to examine the quotation error rate and trends over time in the medical literature. Methods: A systematic search of PubMed, Web of Science, and reference lists for quotation error studies in medicine and without date or language restrictions identified 46 studies analyzing 32,000 quotations/references. Literature search, data extraction, and risk of bias assessments were performed independently by two raters. Random-effects meta-analyses and meta-regression were used to analyze error rates and trends (protocol pre-registered on OSF). Results: 16.9% (95% CI: 14.1%-20.0%) of quotations were incorrect, with approximately half classified as major errors (8.0% [95% CI: 6.4%-10.0%]). Heterogeneity was high, and Egger’s test for small study effects remained negative throughout. Meta-regression showed no significant improvement in quotation accuracy over recent years (slope: -0.002 [95% CI: -0.03 to 0.02], p = 0.85). Neither risk of bias, nor the number of references were statistically significantly associated with total error rate, but journal impact factor was: Spearman’s ρ = –0.253 ( p = 0.043, binomial test, N = 25). Conclusions: Quotation errors remain a problem in the medical literature, with no improvement over time. Addressing this issue requires concerted efforts to improve scholarly practices and editorial processes.

Item Type:	Article
Creators:	Creators Email ORCID ORCID Put Code Baethge, Christopher UNSPECIFIED https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6246-3674 UNSPECIFIED Jergas, Hannah UNSPECIFIED https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3041-1583 UNSPECIFIED
URN:	urn:nbn:de:hbz:38-809311
Identification Number:	10.1186/s41073-025-00173-z
Journal or Publication Title:	Research Integrity and Peer Review
Volume:	10
Number:	1
Page Range:	pp. 1-10
Number of Pages:	10
Date:	23 July 2025
Publisher:	Springer Nature
ISSN:	2058-8615
Language:	English
Faculty:	Faculty of Medicine
Divisions:	Faculty of Medicine > Neurologie > Klinik und Poliklinik für Neurologie Faculty of Medicine > Psychiatrie und Psychotherapie > Klinik und Poliklinik für Psychiatrie und Psychotherapie
Subjects:	Medical sciences Medicine
Uncontrolled Keywords:	Keywords Language Quotation inaccuracy ; Citation errors ; Secondary quotations ; Quotation errors ; Medical publishing English
['eprint_fieldname_oa_funders' not defined]:	Publikationsfonds UzK
Refereed:	Yes
URI:	http://kups.ub.uni-koeln.de/id/eprint/80931