Actuarial analysis of time-failure data and its relevance for interpretation of results. Audit of the Journal "Strahlentherapie und onkologie"

Background: The statistical quality of the contributions to "Strahlentherap ie and Onkologie": is assessed, aiming for improvement of the journal and c onsequently its impact factor. Material and Methods: All 181 articles published during 1998 and 1999 in th e categories "review", "original contribution", and "short communication" w ere analyzed concerning actuarial analysis of time-failure data. Result: One hundred and twenty-three publications without time-failure data were excluded from analysis. Forty-five of the remaining 58 publications w ith time-failure data were evaluated actuarially. This corresponds to 78% ( 95 % confidence interval: 63 to 88%) of papers, in which data were adequate ly analyzed. Complications were reported in 16 of 58 papers, but in only 3 cases actuarially. The number of patients at risk during the course of foll ow-up was documented adequately in 22 of the 45 publications with actuarial analysis Conclusion: Authors, peer reviewers, and editors could contribute to improv e the quality of the journal by setting value on acturial analysis of time- failure data.