Postpublication metrics of randomized clinical trials with and without null findings

Publication bias can arise from investigators not submitting studies with outcomes that do not support their hypotheses1 or from journals selectively publishing studies in which the results are statistically significant.2 Publication bias may arise from the perception that nonsignificant findings will garner less scientific or public attention than findings that confirm study hypotheses. However, whether this perception is accurate is unknown. Thus, we investigated the association between whether a study supported or rejected the null hypothesis and postpublication metrics reflecting scientific and public interest.