Variable |
Description |
Outcome |
Definition |
Sign |
Identified whether the citing article affirmatively,
negatively, or neutrally referred to the index study.. |
Affirmation |
The article confirmed, supported, depended on, or was influenced by the
index study |
|
|
Negation |
The article disputed, questioned, or negatively evaluated
the index study |
|
|
Neutral |
The article took an undefined, non-promotional,
non-combative stance toward the index study |
Accuracy |
Similar to past studies that categorized textual
evidence in order to examine varying perspectives in areas of interest
53. |
Accurate |
The concordance of the presented facts with information from
the index study |
|
|
Inaccurate |
The citation contained any extraneous, contrasting,
assumed, or misleading information in regard to the index
study |
|
|
Neither |
The citation did not present enough information from the
index study to evaluate its accuracy |
Attribution |
Assessed the perceived impact by the scientific
community of the index study on opioid prescribing practices, and thus
the opioid crisis. |
Attributed |
The citation implied or explicitly
linked the publication of the index study to the subsequent development
of the opioid-related harms |
|
|
Not Attributed |
The citation did not mention the opioid crisis or
opioid related harms, and did not establish a link between the index
study and the opioid crisis |
Agenda Setting |
Whether the index study was fundamental to the
motivation or design of the study at hand
54. |
Agenda Setting |
The index study was cited in the Introduction or at the
beginning of sections (i.e. at the start of the Discussion) and cited as
a motivator for subsequent research |
|
|
Not Agenda Setting |
The index study was not cited in the
Introduction, the start of any other section, and not cited as a
motivator |
Article Type |
Identified the citing article as either
empirical or non-empirical research. |
Empirical Articles |
The article
was empirical (quantitative or qualitative) that included data
collection, including secondary analyses such as systematic
reviews |
|
|
Non-Empirical Articles |
All other articles such as commentaries and
editorials that did not report new data or analyses |