Abstract
BackgroundMethodological research has found that non-published studies often have different results than those that are published, a phenomenon known as publication bias. When results are not published, or are published selectively based on the direction or the strength of the findings, healthcare professionals and consumers of healthcare cannot base their decision-making on the full body of current evidence.MethodsAs part of the OPEN project (http://www.open-project.eu) we will conduct a systematic review with the following objectives:1. To determine the proportion and/or rate of non-publication of studies by systematically reviewing methodological research projects that followed up a cohort of studies that a. received research ethics committee (REC) approval,b. were registered in trial registries, orc. were presented as abstracts at conferences.2. To assess the association of study characteristics (for example, direction and/or strength of findings) with likelihood of full publication.To identify reports of relevant methodological research projects we will conduct electronic database searches, check reference lists, and contact experts. Published and unpublished projects will be included. The inclusion criteria are as follows:a. RECs: methodological research projects that examined the subsequent proportion and/or rate of publication of studies that received approval from RECs;b. Trial registries: methodological research projects that examine the subsequent proportion and/or rate of publication of studies registered in trial registries;c. Conference abstracts: methodological research projects that examine the subsequent proportion and/or rate of full publication of studies which were initially presented at conferences as abstracts.Primary outcomes: Proportion/rate of published studies; time to full publication (mean/median; cumulative publication rate by time).Secondary outcomes: Association of study characteristics with full publication.The different questions (a, b, and c) will be investigated separately. Data synthesis will involve a combination of descriptive and statistical summaries of the included methodological research projects.DiscussionResults are expected to be publicly available in mid 2013.
Highlights
Methodological research has found that non-published studies often have different results than those that are published, a phenomenon known as publication bias
The frequency of unpublished studies is problematic because several methodological research projects have found that non-published studies often have different results than those that are published, a phenomenon known as publication bias [8]
When results are not published, or are published selectively based on the direction or the strength of the findings, healthcare professionals and consumers of healthcare cannot base their decision-making on the full body of current evidence
Summary
Methodological research has found that non-published studies often have different results than those that are published, a phenomenon known as publication bias. To determine the proportion and/or rate of non-publication of studies by systematically reviewing methodological research projects that followed up a cohort of studies that a. Methodological research projects have shown that for approximately 40% to 50% of all launched studies, results or reasons for their failure are never published [1,2,3,4] Evidence shows that these unpublished studies do not significantly vary in methodological quality from their published counterparts [5,6]. The frequency of unpublished studies is problematic because several methodological research projects have found that non-published studies often have different results than those that are published, a phenomenon known as publication bias [8]. When results are not published, or are published selectively based on the direction or the strength of the findings, healthcare professionals and consumers of healthcare cannot base their decision-making on the full body of current evidence
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