Editorial expressions of concern are infrequent even for researchers with multiple retracted publications – An observational study

BACKGROUND: Early notification of journal readers of the existence of publication integrity concerns by an editorial expression of concern (EoC) can mitigate the adverse effects of unreliable research. METHODS: We extracted EoCs and retraction notices from the Retraction Watch database up until the end of 2024. We assessed temporal trends in publication of each notice, the proportion of retracted papers with an associated EoC, and the timing of EoCs according to publication date and retraction status. We examined the ratio of EoCs to retractions among authors, including those with multiple retractions, and among both journals and publishers. RESULTS: EoCs were rarely published during the 14y assessment period. Only 3.3% of retracted papers had a preceding EoC. For 56% of publications with an EoC, the EoC was the latest notice. 92% of authors had an EoC:retraction ratio 5 retractions had an EoC, and 99% had an EoC:retraction ratio 5 retractions than in those which had published < 5. CONCLUSIONS: EoCs are rarely employed during the assessment of publication integrity concerns. Journal readers are disadvantaged by delayed notification of potentially unreliable research.