Dr. Thomas Falasca, May 15, 2019 Author of Physician’s Guide to Better Medical Decision Making: Critical Thinking in Medicine
While I have written much previously about the publication bias, finally I have some optimistic news possibly signaling a change.
Publication bias exists when studies with positive findings, e.g., that a new drug is effective, are published in preference to no-difference studies, e.g., that the new drug is no different from placebo control. This has been documented in several past studies as outlined in Physician’s Guide to Better Medical Decision Making.
Interestingly, Murray et al published a research letter in the May 14, 2019 issue of JAMA that examined each issue of 10 JAMA Network Journals published between January 1, 2013, and December 31, 2015, They found in these journals no significant difference between publication in these journals and the direction of the findings.
If these findings are true, the JAMA Network Journals are to be congratulated. Hopefully, this signals a change in publication tendencies.