title: Reporting disclosures to the reader in plastic surgery journal publications.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  With the associations between investigators and funding sources becoming increasingly complicated, conflicts of interest may arise that could potentially cause biases in the reporting of results.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To determine the number of published plastic surgery articles that lack reporting of disclosures.
  
  
  METHODS
  An online review of four major North American plastic surgery journal publications from January 1, 2007 to December 31, 2007, was performed. For identification and to provide anonymity, journals were assigned a letter from A to D.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of the 1759 articles reviewed, 726 (41%) were included. Disclosure was not reported in 368 (51%) articles: Journal A (n=10, 3%), Journal B (n=153, 85%), Journal C (n=193, 93%) and Journal D (n=12, 32%). Journals differed significantly in their reporting of disclosure (P<0.01).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In the plastic surgery journals reviewed, the lack of documentation of disclosures was frequent. To ensure identification of bias in plastic surgery publications, a section dedicated to disclosure statements is recommended for each published article.
authors.affiliation: Division of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Department of Surgery, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec.
authors.forename: Hani
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Sinno
authors.forename: Justyn
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Lutfy
authors.forename: Youssef
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Tahiri
authors.forename: Omar Fouda
authors.initials: OF
authors.lastname: Neel
authors.forename: Mirko
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Gilardino
keywords: Bias; Conflicts of interest; Disclosure; Plastic surgery; Publication