We recently wrote about three papers on heart health and exercise that came under fire for reporting the same trial in three different ways. Actually, make that four ways (so far).
The Wiley journal Nursing and Health Sciences has retracted a fourth paper from the group, saying the “main study” was “previously published.” The notice mentions all three previous papers, one of which has already been retracted and another withdrawn from publication.
Here’s the notice for “Can the transtheoretical model motivate patients with coronary heart disease to exercise?”:
The above article from Nursing & Health Sciences, “Can the transtheoretical model motivate patients with coronary heart disease to exercise?” by Li-Xia Zhu, Shuk-Ching Ho, Janet WH Sit and Hong-Gu He, published online on 4th June 2014 on Wiley Online Library (wileyonlinlibrary.com) DOI: 10.1111/nhs.12150, has been retracted by agreement between the lead author, the journal’s Editor in Chief, Teresa Stone, and Wiley Publishing Asia Pty Ltd. The retraction has been agreed due to the main study having been previously published.
References to the previously published articles:
, , , . The effects of a transtheoretical model-based exercise stage-matched intervention on exercise behavior in patients with coronary heart disease: A randomized controlled trial. Patient Educ. Couns. 2014; 95: 384–392. http://www.pec-journal.com/article/S0738-3991(14)00129-3/abstract
, , , Effects of a transtheoretical model–based exercise stage–matched intervention on exercise behaviour and quality of life in patients with coronary heart disease: a randomized controlled trial. J. Adv. Nurs. 2014. doi:10.1111/jan.12469. http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/jan.12469/abstract
, , , . Effect of a transtheoretical model-based stage-matched exercise intervention on exercise behavior and angina in patients with coronary heart disease: a randomized controlled trial. J. Cardiovasc. Nurs. 2014. DOI:10.1097/JCN.0000000000000162. http://journals.lww.com/jcnjournal/Citation/publishahead/Effect_of_a_Transtheoretical_Model_Based.99700.aspx
Editor Teresa Stone gave us more details:
On a routine check of overlap I found that the authors had previously published their main study and I asked them to withdraw this manuscript in case it was misleading to readers. There is no suggestion that there was deliberate duplication but I do not think it is good practice to publish a pilot once the main study has been published.
We’ve reached out again to the editor of Patient Education and Counseling, the publisher of the only one of the papers that hasn’t been withdrawn or retracted, and will update if we hear back.
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