Are journals following COPE guidelines when assessing post-publications concerns about Research Integrity

Clinical research is the cornerstone of evidence-based medicine and the foundation of modern healthcare. While the design and quality of studies can be discussed, it has, until now, been taken at face value that studies are at least based on reliable data. In recent years, it has become apparent that this assumption is in-correct. This is worrisome since these studies, specifically randomised clinical trials (RCTs), continue to inform medical guidelines and clinical practice. Potentially untrustworthy medical research is often identified after publication. When complaints about potential problematic publications are raised, journals are supposed to work according to guidelines of the Committee of Publication Ethics (COPE). The COPE guidelines are internationally recognised standards that provide journals and publishers with best-practice principles for research integrity, peer review, authorship, and publication ethics. Adherence to these guidelines is essential to ensure transparency and fairness in the publication process. Unfortunately, many journals do not follow these COPE guidelines (1). We have in recent years written to with concerns about 1,200 papers. The student will assess (in a subset of these papers) whether the journals followed COPE guidelines. This will include a survey among journal editors and publishers. This will result in a systematic report on the implementation of COPE guidelines. Through this project, the student will gain valuable skills in critically appraising clinical research, with a focus on research integrity and publication ethics. In addition, the student will acquire experience in systematically evaluating adherence to international publishing standards, analysing qualitative and quantitative data, and synthesizing findings into a structured report. This combination of skills and knowledge will provide a strong foundation for future work in clinical research, medical publishing, or health policy. References 1. Siddharth Shivantha, Nicole Ling Shan Au, Lyle Gurrin, Jim Thornton, Jeremy Nielsen, Ben W Mol. Publishers' Response to Post‐Publication Concerns About Clinical Research in Women's Health. BJOG. 2025 Feb 26;132(7):892–901. doi: 10.1111/1471-0528.18100