title: Authors report lack of time as main reason for unpublished research presented at biomedical conferences: a systematic review.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To systematically review reports that queried abstract authors about reasons for not subsequently publishing abstract results as full-length articles.
  
  
  METHODS
  Systematic review of MEDLINE, EMBASE, The Cochrane Library, ISI Web of Science, and study bibliographies for empirical studies in which investigators examined subsequent full publication of results presented at a biomedical conference and reasons for nonpublication.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean full publication rate was 55.9% [95% confidence interval (CI): 54.8%, 56.9%] for 24 of 27 eligible reports providing this information and 73.0% (95% CI: 71.2%, 74.7%) for seven reports of abstracts describing clinical trials. Twenty-four studies itemized 1,831 reasons for nonpublication, and six itemized 428 reasons considered the most important reason. "Lack of time" was the most frequently reported reason [weighted average = 30.2% (95% CI: 27.9%, 32.4%)] and the most important reason [weighted average = 38.4% (95% CI: 33.7%, 43.2%)]. Other commonly stated reasons were "lack of time and/or resources," "publication not an aim," "low priority," "incomplete study," and "trouble with co-authors."
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Across medical specialties, the main reasons for not subsequently publishing an abstract in full lie with factors related to the abstract author rather than with journals.
authors: Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Department of Epidemiology, 615 N. Wolfe St., Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA. Electronic address: rschere1@jhu.edu.
authors: Roberta W
authors: RW
authors: Scherer
authors: Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Department of Epidemiology, 615 N. Wolfe St., Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA; Instituto de Medicina Tropical Alexander von Humboldt, Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia, Avenue Honorio Delgado 430, San Martín de Porres, Lima 31, Perú
authors: Cesar
authors: C
authors: Ugarte-Gil
authors: German Cochrane Centre, Medical Center-University of Freiburg, Berliner Allee 29, 79110 Freiburg, Germany.
authors: Christine
authors: C
authors: Schmucker
authors: German Cochrane Centre, Medical Center-University of Freiburg, Berliner Allee 29, 79110 Freiburg, Germany.
authors: Joerg J
authors: JJ
authors: Meerpohl
mesh_terms: D003226:Congresses as Topic / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D017594:Publication Bias / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011643:Publishing / Q000458:organization & administration* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D017748:Time Management
keywords: Conference abstract; Manuscript; Nonpublication; Publication; Publication bias; Selection bias