COMPARISON OF TYPES OF RESEARCH ARTICLES PUBLISHED IN EMERGENCY-MEDICINE AND NON-EMERGENCY MEDICINE JOURNALS

Introduction: As the specialty of emergency medicine (EM) matures, its journals should be publishing research of a quality similar to that w hich appears in other premier journals. Objective: To compare the type s of original research published in 4 EM vs 3 non-EM journals. Methods : Retrospective review of all 1995 articles published in Academic Emer gency Medicine, American Journal of Emergency Medicine, Annals of Emer gency Medicine, Journal of Emergency Medicine, Annals of Internal Medi cine, JAMA, and New England Journal of Medicine. Research articles wer e classified as longitudinal vs cross-sectional, prospective vs retros pective, and interventional vs observational. Other characteristics no ted were number of subjects, randomization, blinding, control, and pow er calculations, Journals were reviewed by 4 investigators who receive d specific training in research classification, adhering to previously reported criteria for retrospective reviews. Interobserver reliabilit y was independently validated. Results: The authors reviewed 3,524 art icles, of which 874 (24.8%) were original research. Compared with rese arch reported in non-FM journals, EM journals contained fewer longitud inal studies (40.5% vs 60.4%, p < 0.0001) and fewer prospective studie s (70.8% vs 78.7%, p = 0.008). Fewer EM journals had studies that were blinded (13.7% vs 18.9%, p = 0.047) or controlled (36.3% vs 50.0%, p = 0.003). Studies reported in EM journals had fewer subjects (138 vs 3 00, p < 0.001). Research reports in EM journals were less likely to ha ve been funded, even after adjustment for the differences in study des igns (adjusted odds ratio 7.0, 95% CI 5.1-9.7). Conclusion: Significan t differences in types of research published in EM and non-EM journals were identified.