The aim of this study was to analyze the features of retracted articles by authors affiliated with hospitals in mainland China. We searched the PubMed, Web of Science, and Retraction Watch databases for retractions and identified the following characteristics of each retracted article: publisher, open access status, impact factor of the journal that retracted the article, any PubPeer comments recorded before the retraction, status of the hospital where the authors worked, and any response to the retraction from the authors. We found 521 retractions, primarily by authors at grade A, third-level hospitals located in a limited number of regions of mainland China, and found that the journals that had published and later retracted the articles tended to have a medium to high impact factor. The main reasons for retraction were data manipulation, fabrication, or fraud; errors made by the authors; or plagiarism. Few of the retracted publications had PubPeer comments before their retraction. This is the first report to focus on retracted research coming out of hospitals in mainland China. The large number of retractions for Chinese hospitals is worrying. The results suggest that some retractions were related to third parties that provided editorial and other services.
An Analysis of Recently Retracted Articles by Authors Affiliated with Hospitals in Mainland China
Tianye Zhao
Related information
Related information
Related information
Related information

Department of the Library at the First Hospital of Jilin University and the Department of Preventive Medicine in the School of Public Health at Jilin University
, Tiancong Dai 
Department of Preventive Medicine in the School of Public Health at Jilin University
, Zhijun Lun 
Department of the Library at the First Hospital of Jilin University
, Yanli Gao 
Department of Scientific Research at the First Hospital of Jilin University
tianye zhao interns for the Department of the Library at the First Hospital of Jilin University and the Department of Preventive Medicine in the School of Public Health at Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin Province, China. Email: [email protected]
tiancong dai is a student in the Department of Preventive Medicine in the School of Public Health at Jilin University. Email: [email protected]
zhijun lun, corresponding author, works for the Department of the Library at the First Hospital of Jilin University. Email: [email protected]
yanli gao, corresponding author, works for the Department of Scientific Research at the First Hospital of Jilin University. Email: [email protected]
Published Online: January 12, 2021
Metrics
Downloaded 37 times
Article History
Version of record: 12 January 2021
Related Content Search
Top Articles
-
Volume: 53, Issue: 2, pp. 85-108Jaime A. Teixeira da Silva and Serhii Nazarovets
-
Volume: 53, Issue: 2, pp. 114-118Steven E. Gump
-
Volume: 53, Issue: 2, pp. 61-62Deborah C. Poff
-
Volume: 47, Issue: 4, pp. 307-327Margaret Ray
-
Volume: 51, Issue: 1, pp. 63-75Mark Hooper
-
Volume: 51, Issue: 1, pp. 38-62Agata Mrva-Montoya, Edward J. Luca and Henry Boateng
-
Volume: 48, Issue: 3, pp. 137-160Derek Pyne
-
Volume: 44, Issue: 4, pp. 311-326Emily Ford
-
Volume: 50, Issue: 3, pp. 183-200Stewart Manley