title: Misrepresentation of publications by radiology residency applicants: is it really a problem?
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to determine whether the previous relatively high rate of misrepresentation of publications is still a problem with current applicants for radiology residency.
  
  
  METHODS
  The publications submitted by a sample of 300 applicants for a radiology residency in 2011 were assessed using PubMed and an extensive Internet search to verify whether the articles were in print and had the applicants listed as authors and in the same positions of authorship. Whether the applicants graduated from US or international medical schools was recorded.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of the 138 applicants (46.0%) who cited 1 or more publications, there were 5 misrepresentations (3.6%). These included 1 article not found in the cited journal, 1 journal that could not be found, 1 article in which the applicant was not listed as an author, and 2 instances in which the applicants were not in the same positions of authorship (listed as lead authors but actually second authors). The misrepresentation rate was 1.9% among US graduates and 8.8% among graduates of international medical schools.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The low rate of misrepresentation of publications, especially among graduates of US medical schools, does not seem to warrant spending the time to check the citations of journal articles of all applicants for radiology residency positions. Nevertheless, it is reasonable to request that applicants bring to their interviews a copy of each cited article and to assess their knowledge of all other listed research activities.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts 02215, USA. rleisenb@bidmc.harvard.edu
authors.forename: Ronald L
authors.initials: RL
authors.lastname: Eisenberg
authors.forename: Meredith
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Cunningham
authors.forename: Justin W
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Kung
authors.forename: Priscilla J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Slanetz
mesh_terms: D001319:Authorship; D008192:Deception; D004503:Education, Medical, Graduate; D006801:Humans; D020407:Internet; D007396:Internship and Residency; D007586:Job Application; D039781:PubMed; D011643:Publishing / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011871:Radiology / Q000193:education*