Reporting and Concordance of Methodologic Criteria Between Abstracts and Articles in Diagnostic Test Studies

Authors: Estrada, Carlos A.; Bloch, Richard M.; Antonacci, Diana; Basnight, L. Lorraine; Patel, Sangnya R.; Patel, Sanjay C.; Wiese, Wilhelmine

Source: Journal of General Internal Medicine, Volume 15, Number 3, March 2000 , pp. 183-187(5)

Publisher: Wiley-Blackwell

Abstract:

OBJECTIVE:

To evaluate the quality and concordance of methodologic criteria in abstracts versus articles regarding the diagnosis of trichomoniasis. STUDY DESIGN:

Survey of published literature. DATA SOURCES:

Studies indexed inmedline(1976-1998). STUDY SELECTION:

Studies that used culture as the gold or reference standard. DATA EXTRACTION:

Data from abstract and articles were independently abstracted using 4 methodologic criteria: (1) prospective evaluation of consecutive patients; (2) test results did not influence the decision to do gold standard; (3) independent and blind comparison with gold standard; and (4) broad spectrum of patients used. The total number of criteria met for each report was calculated to create a quality score (0-4). MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS:

None of the 33 abstracts or full articles reported all 4 criteria. Three criteria were reported in none of the abstracts and in 18% of articles (95% confidence interval [95% CI] 8.6% to 34%). Two criteria were reported in 18% of abstracts (95% CI, 8.6% to 34%) and 42% of articles (95% CI, 27% to 59%). One criterion was reported in 42% of abstracts (95% CI, 27% to 59%) and 27% of articles (95% CI, 15% to 44%). No criteria were reported in 13 (39%) of 33 abstracts (95% CI, 25% to 56%) and 4 (12%) of 33 articles (95% CI, 4.8% to 27%). The agreement of the criteria between the abstract and the article was poor (κ−0.09; 95% CI, −0.18 to 0) to moderate (κ 0.53; 95% CI, 0.22 to 0.83). CONCLUSIONS:

Information on methods basic to study validity is often absent from both abstract and paper. The concordance of such criteria between the abstract and article needs to improve.

Keywords: evidence-based medicine; periodicals; publishing; quality control; sensitivity and specificity; diagnosis

Document Type: Research article

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1046/j.1525-1497.2000.03189.x

Affiliations: 1: East Carolina University School of Medicine, Greenville, NC

Publication date: 2000-03-01

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