Reference accuracy in the dermatologic literature.
BACKGROUND
The reference list is an important part of a scientific article. To be useful it must be accurate.


OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this study was to evaluate the accuracy of references in the dermatologic literature.


METHODS
We randomly selected 240 references (60 per journal) from the Archives of Dermatology, the British Journal of Dermatology, this Journal, and the Journal of Investigative Dermatology and checked them against the original articles.


RESULTS
The overall rate of citation error (the information identifying the source) was 41%, and the quotation error (inconsistency between the statement referenced and the original source) was 35%. Only 36% of references were free of error.


CONCLUSIONS
This study shows that the rate of citation and quotation errors is unacceptably high in the dermatologic literature, which significantly diminishes the value of the reference list.
Dermatology Section, Veterans Administration Medical Center, Minneapolis, Minnesota.
P M
PM
George
K
K
Robbins
D015706:Bibliometrics; D003880:Dermatology; D010506:Periodicals as Topic