Evidence map›Paper›PMID 37588117›Full record

SynthesisFrontiers in public health2023

Surveillance of clinical research integrity in medically assisted reproduction: a systematic review of retracted publications.

Sabrina Minetto, Mara Zanirato, Sofia Makieva, Daria Marzanati, Stefania Esposito, Valerio Pisaturo, Mauro Costa, Massimo Candiani, Enrico Papaleo, Alessandra Alteri

Open access · goldAbstract readSystematic Review
In one paragraph

Synthesis in Frontiers in public health, 2023. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
1.6field-weighted citation impact, top 14% of its field
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed, 6 citations in OpenAlex.

  1. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

10 authors at 4 institutions in 2 countries.

Sabrina MinettoObstetrics and Gynaecology Unit, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy.
Mara ZaniratoObstetrics and Gynaecology Unit, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy.
Sofia MakievaKinderwunschzentrum, Klinik für Reproduktions-Endokrinologie, Universitätsspital Zürich, Zürich, Switzerland.
Daria MarzanatiReproductive Sciences Laboratory, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy.
Stefania EspositoObstetrics and Gynaecology Unit, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy.
Valerio PisaturoReproductive Medicine Department, International Evangelical Hospital, Genoa, Italy.
Mauro CostaReproductive Medicine Department, International Evangelical Hospital, Genoa, Italy.
Massimo CandianiObstetrics and Gynaecology Unit, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy.
Enrico PapaleoObstetrics and Gynaecology Unit, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy.
Alessandra AlteriObstetrics and Gynaecology Unit, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy.
Istituti di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico · ITIstituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico San RaffaeleVita-Salute San Raffaele University · ITUniversity Hospital of Zurich · CH

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Background and purpose: Retraction is a significant consequence of scientific research, resulting from various factors ranging from unintentional errors to intentional misconduct. Previous reviews on retracted publications in obstetrics and gynecology have identified "article duplication," "plagiarism," and "fabricated results" as the main reasons for retraction. However, the extent of retracted articles in the literature on medically assisted reproduction (MAR) remains unclear. This systematic review aimed to assess the number and characteristics of retracted articles in the field of MAR. Methods: The Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines were followed for this study. A comprehensive literature search was conducted on the PubMed database from 1993 to February 2023, limited to English articles and including all 283 terms from the International Glossary on Infertility and Fertility Care. To identify retracted studies, a specific query combining the 283 terms from the glossary with a retraction-related keyword was used. Only studies focused on MAR and involving human subjects were included. Results: The electronic search yielded a total of 523,067 records in the field of infertility and fertility care. Among these, a total of 2,458 records were identified as retracted. The citation retraction rate was found to be 0.47% (2,458/523,067; 95%CI 0.45-0.49), and the citation retraction rate for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) was 0.20% (93/45,616; 95%CI 0.16-0.25). A total of 39 retracted articles specifically related to MAR were identified. Among these, 41.0% were RCTs ( Discussion: The issue of retraction exists within the field of infertility and fertility care, including MAR. Our findings indicate that scientific misconduct, particularly plagiarism and duplicate publication, are the primary causes of retraction in MAR. Despite finding that the proportion of retracted citations is low, promoting scientific integrity should be a priority. The consequences of article retractions have significant implications for patient care and the scientific community. Hence, it is crucial to prioritize thorough screening of manuscripts before publication to maintain research integrity. Systematic review registration: https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/display_record.php?RecordID=185769, PROSPERO, identifier: CRD42020185769.

Indexed as

GynecologyInfertilityRetraction of Publication as TopicDatabases, FactualElectronicsFemaleHumansPregnancyReproductionarticle retractionMARmedically assisted reproductionresearch integrityresearch misconduct

Identifiers

PMID37588117
PMCPMC10427242
OpenAlexW4385445697

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.