Larson, JD; Sisolak, BB; King, TW. 2010. The Presence of "Ghost" Citations in an Applicant Pool of an Integrated Plastic Surgery Residency Program. PLASTIC AND RECONSTRUCTIVE SURGERY 126 (4): 1390-1394

[Eugene Garfield]

Larson, JD; Sisolak, BB; King, TW. 2010. The Presence of "Ghost" Citations in 
an Applicant Pool of an Integrated Plastic Surgery Residency Program. PLASTIC 
AND RECONSTRUCTIVE SURGERY 126 (4): 1390-1394..

Author Full Name(s): Larson, Jeffrey D.; Sisolak, Barbara Benisch; King, Timothy 
W.
Language: English
Document Type: Article
KeyWords Plus: MISREPRESENTATION; PUBLICATIONS; AUTHORSHIP

Abstract: Background: In today's morally flexible society, breaches in 
professionalism abound. Professionalism and integrity are core values required 
of all physicians. Falsification of application information has been demonstrated 
in some applicant populations. As one of the most competitive fields among 
residency training programs, applications to an integrated plastic surgery 
residency program were analyzed to determine whether nonverifiable or "ghost" 
publications were being included by applicants.
Methods: The study population included 232 applicants to the University of 
Wisconsin integrated plastic surgery program in 2008 to 2009. In each 
application, citation information for journal articles, book chapters, and other 
publications were reviewed for accuracy. The protocol included verifying 
citation accuracy in the PubMed/MEDLINE database. Citations that could not 
be verified were submitted to the department of surgery librarian for further 
review. Other applicant data were also collected to identify potential predictive 
factors for including ghost publications.
Results: Two hundred thirty-two applications listed 876 citations that were 
reviewed. Two hundred sixty (30 percent) were identified as citations for which 
publication was pending and were excluded from analysis. A primary search 
successfully verified 415 citations (47 percent). A secondary search 
successfully verified 148 citations (17 percent) as well as identified citations 
that were complicated, incorrectly cited, or ghost publications. There were 14 
ghost publications (2 percent).
Conclusions: The inclusion of nonverifiable citations among plastic surgery 
applicants is low. Nonetheless, we should insist on professionalism and integrity 
as core values in medical students pursuing plastic surgery, as any "ghost" 
publication raises an index of suspicion for potentially fraudulent activity. 
(Plast. Reconstr. Surg. 126: 1390, 2010.)

Addresses: [Larson, Jeffrey D.; Sisolak, Barbara Benisch; King, Timothy W.] 
Univ Wisconsin Hosp & Clin, Madison, WI 53792 USA

Reprint Address: King, TW, Univ Wisconsin Hosp, Sch Med & Publ Hlth, Div Plast 
& Reconstruct Surg, 600 Highland Ave,CSC G5-361, Madison, WI 53792 USA.

E-mail Address: king at surgery.wisc.edu
ISSN: 0032-1052
DOI: 10.1097/PRS.0b013e3181ead0d1
Fulltext: 
http://journals.lww.com/plasreconsurg/Abstract/2010/10000/The_Presence_of_
_Ghost__Citations_in_an_Applicant.33.aspx