The Value of Lesser-Impact-Factor Surgical Journals As a Source of Negative and Inconclusive Outcomes Reporting

Abstract

Quality rather than outcome should be the measure on which a publication decision is made; commercial bias may further complicate this balance. Lower IF-rated journals may serve a decidedly useful purpose by publishing more negative and inconclusive outcome studies. The practice of focusing disproportionately on the positive outcomes of most studies may result in unbalanced evidence.