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To the Editor: The International Committee of Medical Journal Editors (ICMJE)¹ rightly decries selective reporting of trials with positive results. However, a contributing problem is publication bias toward positive results, which distorts the "base" of evidence-based medicine.^2-4 The journal editors could help reverse publication bias by committing to publish trials with negative results as regular columns or as supplements. Creating such a forum would remove investigator reluctance to submit such work for publication, validate the importance of trials with negative results, and help to reclaim public trust.

Omar Khalil, MD; Rangaswamy Govindarajan, MD; Mazin Safar, MD; Laura Hutchins, MD; Paulette Mehta, MD
mehtapaulette@uams.edu
University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences
Central Arkansas Veterans Healthcare System
Little Rock

1. DeAngelis CD, Drazen JM, Frizelle FA, et al, International Committee of Medical Journal Editors. Clinical trial registration: a statement from the International Committee of Medical Journal Editors. JAMA. 2004;292:1363-1364. FREE FULL TEXT 2. Cleophas RC, Cleophas TJ. Is selective reporting of clinical research unethical as well as unscientific? Int J Clin Pharmacol Ther. 1999;37:1-7. ISI | PUBMED 3. Chalmers I. Underreporting research is scientific misconduct. JAMA. 1990;263:1405-1408. ABSTRACT 4. Begg CB, Berlin JA. Publication bias and dissemination of clinical research. J Natl Cancer Inst. 1989;81:107-115. FREE FULL TEXT

Letters Section Editor: Robert M. Golub, MD, Senior Editor.

JAMA. 2005;293:157.

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