The statistical reporting quality of articles published in 2010 in five dental journals.

Author: Vähänikkilä H, Tjäderhane L, Nieminen P.

Source: Acta Odontol Scand.

Year: 2015

Comment:

The researchers conclude, "The proportion of at least one poor reporting item in this survey was high (91%). The authors of dental journals should be encouraged to improve the statistical section of their research articles and to present the results in such a way that it is in line with the policy and presentation of the leading dental journals."

Abstract / Excerpt:

“METHODS: A total of 200 articles published in 2010 were analysed covering five dental journals: Journal of Dental Research, Caries Research, Community Dentistry and Oral Epidemiology, Journal of Dentistry and Acta Odontologica Scandinavica. Each paper underwent careful scrutiny for the use of statistical methods and reporting. A paper with at least one poor reporting item has been classified as ‘problems with reporting statistics’ and a paper without any poor reporting item as ‘acceptable’.

RESULTS:
The investigation showed that 18 (9%) papers were acceptable and 182 (91%) papers contained at least one poor reporting item.”

Citation:

Vähänikkilä H, Tjäderhane L, Nieminen P. The statistical reporting quality of articles published in 2010 in five dental journals. Acta Odontol Scand. 2015;73(1):76-80.