- http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/770237
- http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/766405
- http://jada.ada.org/content/143/9/968.3
Provide names of other journalists involved.
None.
List date(s) this work was published or aired.
4-Sep-12
Provide a brief synopsis of the story or stories, including any significant findings.
Investigation of a scientific study, published in the May 2012 Journal of the American Dental Association (JADA 2012; 143(5): 472-477 uncovered flaws in its design and execution linked to the author’s contract with its corporate sponsor. An internal inquiry by JADA confirmed these findings and led to the first retraction in 14 years of a study published in the journal.
Explain types of documents, data or Internet resources used. Were FOI or public records act requests required? How did this affect the work?
Study itself disclosed that Biotrol Inc. was corporate sponsor. Its website (www.biotrol.com) included a chart describing the performance of disinfectants in the then embargoed JADA trial but it referred to an abstract of preliminary results published at 2008 Organization for Safety, Aepsis, & Prevention meeting. The online presentation of that abstract revealed that one disinfectant tested in the JADA study was not examined as part of the original trial. In a phone interview, Dr. Charles Palenik admitted that he reopened the study months after its completion at the request of the sponsor to include a new Biotrol product. He also described contractural terms including the sponsor’s ownership of the data, review of the original study design, selection of tested products, and prepublication review of his manuscript.
Explain types of human sources used.
Consultation with the National Institutes of Health Office of Science Policy relating to the ethics of clinical trial design. Interview and scientific methods analysis by Kay Dickersin, PhD, directer of the Center for Clinical Trials, Johns Hopkins University School of Public Health. Mark S. Wolff, DDS, PhD, chair of the cariology department, New York University College of Dentistry. Marjorie Jeffcoat, DMD, Dean Emeritus University of Pennsylvania School of Dental Medicine (former editor of JADA), Charles Palenik, PhD, (then) director of infection control research and services, Indiana University School of Dentistry. and Michael Glick, DMD, editor of JADA and dean of the School of Dentistry, University of Buffalo
Results:
JADA retracted the study. The notice of retraction was announced in its September 2012 issue [JADA 2012 143(9): 968). The publication has also modified its author disclosure procedures and peer review processes on the basis my investigation confirmed by its internal inquiry. Dr. Palenik is no longer associated with the University of Indiana School of Dentistry
Follow-up (if any). Have you run a correction or clarification on the report or has anyone come forward to challenge its accuracy? If so, please explain.
None. “Retraction Watch” published an independent on-line report on the JADA retraction. My coverage and the role it played in the retraction were described. (http://retractionwatch.wordpress.com/2012/09/04/flawed-disclosure-leads-dental-journal-to-retract-disinfection-paper/).
Advice to other journalists planning a similar story or project.
Follow your reporting instincts. The fact that the study’s sponsor made and marketed its 2 best-performing disinfectants raised suspicion. On-line digging uncovered study flaws there were later confirmed by expert sources. Its associated ethical conflicts of interests were uncovered during 3 on-the-record phone interviews with the study’s author.