MISREPRESENTATION OF ACADEMIC ACCOMPLISHMENTS BY APPLICANTS FOR GASTROENTEROLOGY FELLOWSHIPS

Objective: To determine whether two applicants who misrepresented thei r accomplishments in applications for gastroenterology fellowships ref lected isolated incidents or whether misrepresentation was more widesp read. Design: Retrospective review of all 236 applications submitted f or fellowship in a recent year for confirmation of research experience and cited publications. Results: 138 applicants (58.5%) reported rese arch experience during residency in a U.S. training program. Research activity could not be confirmed for 47 of 138 applicants (34.1%). Fift y-three applicants (22.4%) reported published articles, and 16 of thes e applicants (30.2%) misrepresented articles. Misrepresentation includ ed citations of nonexistent articles in actual journals, articles in n onexistent journals, or articles noted as ''in press.'' Conclusions: M isrepresentation on applications for gastroenterology fellowships was common. The following steps are recommended: 1) Fellowship programs sh ould require that copies of ail publications and letters of acceptance for manuscripts in press be submitted with fellowship applications; 2 ) applications should contain a statement to be signed by the applican t that the information provided is accurate; 3) persons writing letter s of recommendation should verify the information being submitted by a pplicants; 4) medical students and residents should be taught that emb ellishment of curricula vitae constitutes misconduct; and 5) instituti ons and professional organizations should develop policies to deal wit h this problem.