• R Goldberg, E Newton, J Cameron, R Jacobson, L Chan, W R Bukata, and A Rakab.
• Department of Emergency Medicine, University of Southern California School of Medicine, Los Angeles.
• Ann Emerg Med. 1993 Sep 1; 22 (9): 1450-4.

Study ObjectiveTo determine the incidence and nature of errors in the citation and quotation of references contained in the emergency medicine literature.DesignA retrospective analysis of a random sample of articles and references found in the three major emergency medicine journals.SettingA university/county hospital.MethodsWe examined single issues of three emergency medicine journals: Annals of Emergency Medicine, Journal of Emergency Medicine, and American Journal of Emergency Medicine.InterventionsNone.MeasurementsFour independent reviewers assessed 145 references from 46 referring authors for citational and quotational accuracy.Main ResultsMajor 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.ConclusionThis 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.

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