Citation Errors in Scientific Research and Publications: Causes, Consequences, and Remedies

INTRODUCTION Scientific research depends on the gathering of existing knowledge by collecting data from previous research and then building upon the collected data to design new research projects with the goal of answering unanswered scientific questions [1]. [...]proper citation of previously published studies is an essential and integral part of conducting medical research. The extent and importance of the problem of citation errors became evident to us, prompting us to highlight the need for routine review and audit of all citations, using the full-text of cited papers rather than their abstracts, before a manuscript is approved for submission for publication. [...]it has been estimated that only 20% of authors read the original paper that is being cited [4]. Incorrect source type It is common to find citations of secondary literature such as reviews and books without citing the primary research paper that reported the original finding.