The accuracy of citations in medicine and master degree dissertations, Shahrekord University of Medical Sciences, 2006- 2012

Dissertations are as scholarly resources and accurate citation to them is important. The present study was done with the aim of determining the accuracy of dissertation citations in medicine and master degree students in Shahrekord University of Medical Sciences, 2006-2012. In this cross-sectional study, 275 medicine and master degree dissertations were surveyed in Shahrekord Medical University of Sciences from 2006 until 2012. Census method was applied for evaluation of dissertations and data was gathered by checklist consist of frequency and type of errors in citations, citation methods, accuracy and types of each error were evaluated. Of 275 assessed dissertations, 27 were master theses and 248 were Medicine dissertations. Only eight (29.62%) of master theses and 74 (29.83%) of medicine dissertations did not have any citation errors. Vancouver citation method was used in all dissertations. The mean of errors in master and medical dissertations was 7.56±6.88 and 8.92±14.23 respectively. In master dissertations, the most common error in citation was related to English books and English articles, respectively. It seems that citation method in medical master dissertations is not desirable. Therefore, planning and training in this field for students and their educators are necessary.