Awareness of Authorship Criteria and Conflict: Survey in a Medical Institution in India

Upreet Dhaliwal, MS; Navjeevan Singh, MD; Arati Bhatia, MD

December 12, 2006

Abstract

Context: Assignment of appropriate authorship on a scientific paper is important for researchers and the public; inappropriate authorship may generate conflict.
Objectives: To determine the extent of: (a) awareness of criteria for authorship and acknowledgment among researchers in a medical institution, (b) conflict concerning authorship issues in the research environment, and (c) their interrelationship.
Design and Setting: A questionnaire self-administered by the faculty in a teaching hospital in India in March 2006.
Main Outcome Measures: Rate and level of awareness of International Committee of Medical Journal Editors (ICMJE) Uniform Requirements for Manuscripts Submitted to Biomedical Journals, or other rate and level of awareness of international published authorship criteria; rate and type of authorship conflict.
Results: Ninety-five teaching faculty were contacted; 77 responded. Fifty respondents (65%) reported that they were aware that authorship criteria existed, but only 34 (44%) correctly identified a source. Overall, 30 (39%) respondents reported conflict over authorship issues relating mainly to ownership of data, gift authorship, and issues like academic competition, personality differences, intellectual passion, or order of authorship. There was no difference between number of authorship criteria correctly identified by respondents who reported conflict compared with those who did not (P = .78).
Conclusions: There was poor awareness of criteria for authorship and acknowledgement among the faculty in research publications. Conflict over authorship issues existed in the research environment, but was not influenced by the level of awareness.

Readers are encouraged to respond to George Lundberg, MD, Editor of MedGenMed, for the editor's eye only or for possible publication via email: glundberg@medscape.net

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Appendix: Knowledge and Attitude Regarding Authorship Among Writers of Scientific Papers

Age (years) 30-40 41-50 51-60 > 60

Number of Indexed publications 0-15 16-35 < 35

Are you aware of the existence of guidelines to determine authorship of scientific papers?
YES/NO

If yes, can you name the document and its source?

Do you know whether our institution has its own set of authorship guidelines?
YES/NO

If yes, can you name the document and tell how it can be sourced?

Which contributions entitle a person to be cited under "Authorship/Acknowledgment"?

Please indicate "A" (authorship), "K" (acknowledgment), or "N" (neither) in the space provided:

General supervision of the research group ____
Head of department/unit ____
Study conception and design ____
Critical review of the study proposal ____
Disbursement of funds ____
Acquisition of data for the study ____
Providing and caring for study patients ____
Analysis and interpretation of data ____
Drafting and revising the article, and approving the final version ____
Providing technical help ____
Providing writing assistance ____
Personal relationship with the chief investigator ____
Similar field of interest ____
Working in the same unit/department ____

Have you ever experienced conflict over authorship issues with a paper for which you were principal author?
YES/NO

If yes, please tick the situation that most closely resembles the conflict you experienced:

Some of the data used in the study was derived from patients under someone else's care before the study was designed (retrospective study).
Some of the data used in the study was derived from patients under someone else's care after the study began (prospective study).
Conflict arose with somebody who provided scientific advice.
Conflict arose with somebody who critically reviewed the study proposal.
Conflict arose with somebody who shares the area of interest.
Conflict arose with somebody who has named you coauthor in some papers published by them
Conflict relating to personality differences
Conflict relating to intellectual passion
Conflict relating to academic competition
Any other?

Have you ever experienced conflict over authorship issues with a paper where you felt you should have been named author?
YES/NO

If yes, please tick the situation that most closely resembles the conflict you experienced, where you were not named author:

Some of the data used in the study was derived from patients under your care before the study began (retrospective study).
Some of the data used in the study was derived from patients under your care after the study began (prospective study).
Being unit or departmental head, you provided general support.
You provided scientific advice.
You critically reviewed the study proposal.
The study is in your area of interest.
The chief investigator is a colleague that you have named coauthor in some papers published by you.
Conflict relating to personality differences
Conflict relating to academic competition
Conflict relating to intellectual passion
Any other?

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Awareness of Authorship Criteria and Conflict: Survey in a Medical Institution in India

Abstract

Tables

References

Authors and Disclosures

Authors and Disclosures

Appendix

Appendix: Knowledge and Attitude Regarding Authorship Among Writers of Scientific Papers

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