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Publication misrepresentation among urology residency applicants
Ryan S Hsi1, James M Hotaling, Tarah N Moore
1Department of Urology, University of Washington School of Medicine, 1959 NE Pacific Street, Box 356510, Seattle, WA 98195, USA. rshsi@uw.edu
Publication misrepresentation is a significant issue among urology residency applicants. A study found that 7% of applicants misrepresented their publication records, highlighting the need for verification.
Area of Science:
- Medical Education
- Surgical Residency Admissions
- Academic Integrity
Background:
- Research experience and publications are key criteria for evaluating urology residency applicants.
- Assessing the accuracy of reported publications is crucial for fair applicant ranking.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the prevalence and nature of publication misrepresentation in urology residency applications.
- To identify factors associated with publication misrepresentation in this applicant pool.
Main Methods:
- Review of Electronic Residency Application Service (ERAS) applications for urology residency.
- Verification of reported publications against PubMed and Google Scholar.
- Definition of misrepresentation including non-authorship, non-existent articles, and incorrect first-authorship.
Main Results:
- Of 198 applications, 124 reported 541 publications; 347 were verifiable.
- Misrepresentation was found in 7% of applicants (9/132), involving 12 articles.
- Types of misrepresentation included claiming first-authorship, listing non-existent articles, and repeated listings.
Conclusions:
- Publication misrepresentation is a notable concern in urology residency applications.
- Residency program directors should mandate submission of all publication types (print, in-press, submitted) for verification.
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