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How well do structured abstracts reflect the articles they summerize?

How well do structured abstracts reflect the articles they summerize?
How well do structured abstracts reflect the articles they summerize?
Background: evidence-based medicine requires critical appraisal of published research. This is often done by reading the abstracts alone of published papers. This study examined how well structured abstracts reflect the articles they summarize in medical journals.
Methods: a total of 20 papers reporting original randomized trials were obtained from four general medical journals. Key study details, results, and conclusions were extracted from the full articles. Abstracts were examined to see what information from the article was included, and they were scrutinized for inaccuracies, data not presented in the main body, and ambiguous statements.
Results: nineteen abstracts (95%; 95% CI 75 to 100%) correctly stated the primary outcome. Eight abstracts (40%; 19% to 64%) were deficient in some way. Three (15%; 3% to 38%) contained incorrect or inconsistent figures or data. Six abstracts (30%; 12% to 54%) contained data not present in the full article.
Discussion: almost half of the abstracts studied contained some data inconsistent with the full article, or missing altogether. Authors and editors need to ensure that abstracts are of a high quality and accurately reflect the papers they are summarizing. CONSORT guidelines provide helpful indications as to what should be included in abstracts reporting clinical trials
0258-3127
3-5
Peacock, Phillip J.
2f5b689b-7dea-4ca1-ae81-26ed2bb4e84f
Peters, Tim J.
b3ab1e07-326f-41c2-9813-f00f3b75bcf0
Peacock, Janet L.
1cb1242c-7606-4f8e-86d0-d3cd2ceff782
Peacock, Phillip J.
2f5b689b-7dea-4ca1-ae81-26ed2bb4e84f
Peters, Tim J.
b3ab1e07-326f-41c2-9813-f00f3b75bcf0
Peacock, Janet L.
1cb1242c-7606-4f8e-86d0-d3cd2ceff782

Peacock, Phillip J., Peters, Tim J. and Peacock, Janet L. (2009) How well do structured abstracts reflect the articles they summerize? European Sciences Editing, 35 (1), 3-5.

Record type: Article

Abstract

Background: evidence-based medicine requires critical appraisal of published research. This is often done by reading the abstracts alone of published papers. This study examined how well structured abstracts reflect the articles they summarize in medical journals.
Methods: a total of 20 papers reporting original randomized trials were obtained from four general medical journals. Key study details, results, and conclusions were extracted from the full articles. Abstracts were examined to see what information from the article was included, and they were scrutinized for inaccuracies, data not presented in the main body, and ambiguous statements.
Results: nineteen abstracts (95%; 95% CI 75 to 100%) correctly stated the primary outcome. Eight abstracts (40%; 19% to 64%) were deficient in some way. Three (15%; 3% to 38%) contained incorrect or inconsistent figures or data. Six abstracts (30%; 12% to 54%) contained data not present in the full article.
Discussion: almost half of the abstracts studied contained some data inconsistent with the full article, or missing altogether. Authors and editors need to ensure that abstracts are of a high quality and accurately reflect the papers they are summarizing. CONSORT guidelines provide helpful indications as to what should be included in abstracts reporting clinical trials

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More information

Published date: 2009

Identifiers

Local EPrints ID: 72774
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/72774
ISSN: 0258-3127
PURE UUID: 9d22296a-cdfa-4778-8e8c-b459f3c0f301

Catalogue record

Date deposited: 23 Feb 2010
Last modified: 08 Jan 2022 17:22

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Contributors

Author: Phillip J. Peacock
Author: Tim J. Peters
Author: Janet L. Peacock

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