Are we ready for transparency? A survey on Open Science Practices among authors of paediatric dentistry trials
Year: 2026
Type: preprint
Study design: Observational Study
Abstract: Purpose To evaluate the self-reported adoption and perceived barriers related to five open science practices among corresponding authors of paediatric dentistry randomised clinical trials, and to identify factors associated with their adoption and future use. Methods We conducted a cross-sectional online survey between March 2025 and May 2026 among corresponding authors of eligible paediatric dentistry randomised clinical trials published between 2019 and 2026. The questionnaire assessed self-reported adoption, intention, and perceived barriers for engaging in five open science practices. We performed descriptive analyses, and we used ordinal logistic regression models to investigate factors associated with self-reported adoption and intention to adopt. Results Forty-three completed questionnaires were analysed (response rate: 3.8%). Open-access publishing (88.4%) and protocol registration (76.7%) were the most self-reported practices, with 69.8% and 81.4% of respondents, respectively, reporting an intention to adopt these practices. Researchers affiliated with institutions other than universities or dental faculties demonstrated lower odds of adopting open science practices. The most frequently reported barriers included lack of institutional or supervisory support, limited knowledge and training, time constraints, financial costs, uncertainty regarding journal policies, and legal or ethical restrictions related to data sharing. Conclusion Among respondents, self-reported adoption of Open Science practices varied across practices, with greater adoption of open-access publishing and protocol registration than of protocol publication, data sharing, and preprint publication. Financial, institutional, knowledge-related, and policy-related barriers were identified. Given the low response rate, these findings should be considered exploratory and cannot be assumed to represent paediatric dentistry trial authors in general.
Source: Research Square
Language: English
Subfield: Library and Information Sciences
Field: Social Sciences
Domain: Social Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W7223704821