Article type
Year
Abstract
Background: The Cochrane Library is famous for its high quality of evidence on health care interventions. One of its characters of the publication is that the protocols of systematic reviews were published and received peer reviewing. There are more than 1000 biomedical journals published officially in China. But the quality of these journals is not high. Only three journals were indexed by SCI(science citation index). one of the reasons is that the poor quality clinical trials published in many journals. Until now, no one biomedical journal has ever published research protocol. Moreover, Chinese biomedical editors aren't aware of the benefits of protocol publication for improving the quality of journals.
Objective: We aims to draw Chinese biomedical editors' attention to publishing research protocol and suggesting the way to publish protocol.
Method: We electronically searched Medline, Chinese Medical Database (CMB),Wangfang Database with the keywords of "protocol" to invest the status of publishing research protocol by biomedical journals on January 15th, 2001. And analyzed the research results.
Result: There is no Chinese biomedical journal publishing research protocol. Lancet, The Cochrane Library and BioMed Central accept research "protocol" and publish them in electronic version.
Disscussion: Publishing research protocol plays an important role in improving the quality of both clinical trials and biomedical journals. Firstly, protocol publication before research progress may avoids methodological errors and receives comments. It is a good way to supervise the quality of clinical trials by protocol publication. Secondly, wasteful duplication of research work can be decreased. Thirdly, protocol publication can reduce publication bias and language bias. Furthermore, biomedical journals publishing protocol not only facilitates the publication of clinical trial conducted by companies but also absorbs better submission.
Chinese biomedical journals should publish research protocol in electronic version or printed version. Publication protocol in printed version can shorten the distance between developing area and developed area for obtaining information.
Thereby, Chinese Journal of Evidence-Based Medicine, which was founded by Chinese Evidence-Based Medicine/Cochrane Center, in July, 2001, sets out to publish protocols of systematic review, randomized controlled trial, key research supported by nation, prospective Meta-analysis, clinical epidemiology researches from 2002.
Objective: We aims to draw Chinese biomedical editors' attention to publishing research protocol and suggesting the way to publish protocol.
Method: We electronically searched Medline, Chinese Medical Database (CMB),Wangfang Database with the keywords of "protocol" to invest the status of publishing research protocol by biomedical journals on January 15th, 2001. And analyzed the research results.
Result: There is no Chinese biomedical journal publishing research protocol. Lancet, The Cochrane Library and BioMed Central accept research "protocol" and publish them in electronic version.
Disscussion: Publishing research protocol plays an important role in improving the quality of both clinical trials and biomedical journals. Firstly, protocol publication before research progress may avoids methodological errors and receives comments. It is a good way to supervise the quality of clinical trials by protocol publication. Secondly, wasteful duplication of research work can be decreased. Thirdly, protocol publication can reduce publication bias and language bias. Furthermore, biomedical journals publishing protocol not only facilitates the publication of clinical trial conducted by companies but also absorbs better submission.
Chinese biomedical journals should publish research protocol in electronic version or printed version. Publication protocol in printed version can shorten the distance between developing area and developed area for obtaining information.
Thereby, Chinese Journal of Evidence-Based Medicine, which was founded by Chinese Evidence-Based Medicine/Cochrane Center, in July, 2001, sets out to publish protocols of systematic review, randomized controlled trial, key research supported by nation, prospective Meta-analysis, clinical epidemiology researches from 2002.