Reporting bias in imaging: higher accuracy is linked to faster publication

Abstract

• Higher accuracy estimates are weakly associated with shorter time to publication. • Lag in time to publication remained significant in multivariate Cox regression analyses. • No correlation between accuracy and time from submission to publication was identified.

Publication Bias: Association of Diagnostic Accuracy in Radiology Conference Abstracts with Full-Text Publication

“…Strong evidence of reporting bias exists among trials of therapeutic interventions, as studies with positive or significant results are more likely to be published. A recent evaluation of published imaging DTA studies showed that higher DTA was weakly associated with a shorter time to publication (14). This lished.…”

“…Imaging researchers often evaluate DTA, which does not generate a significant result. Instead, these studies produce measures of DTA, such as sensitivity and specificity, which can be considered as a proxy for statistical significance, as has been done in previous evaluations of publication bias in DTA research (13)(14)(15)(16)(17).A recent study showed that imaging studies with higher DTA are published faster than those with lower DTA ( 14); however, it is unknown whether such studies are more likely to be published. A Cochrane systematic review found that conference abstracts of interventional studies that reported at least one significant result were 30% more likely to reach full-text publication than were those that did not (18).…”

“…Imaging researchers often evaluate DTA, which does not generate a significant result. Instead, these studies produce measures of DTA, such as sensitivity and specificity, which can be considered as a proxy for statistical significance, as has been done in previous evaluations of publication bias in DTA research (13)(14)(15)(16)(17).…”

Preferred reporting items for systematic review and meta-analysis of diagnostic test accuracy studies (PRISMA-DTA): explanation, elaboration, and checklist

“…Studies of the link between observed accuracy and publication have produced mixed results. [50][51][52][53] The Deeks test for detecting publication bias can be used while standard tests such as the Egger test are not appropriate in the DTA context. 54 55 The Deeks test has low power to detect publication bias and small study effects.…”

Searching practices and inclusion of unpublished studies in systematic reviews of diagnostic accuracy

“…In recent years, a number of evaluations assessed publication rates among completed diagnostic accuracy studies, identifying that approximately a quarter to half of them failed to reach full‐text publication in a peer‐reviewed journal . Two studies evaluated time from study completion to publication among published diagnostic accuracy studies, both concluding that those reporting higher estimates of diagnostic accuracy were published more rapidly . It seems plausible that studies reporting higher estimates of diagnostic accuracy also more often reach publication, although this has yet to be demonstrated …”