1
|
Hinga A, Ibrahim A, Vintimilla D, Jones M, Eckstein L, Rid A, Shah SK, Kamuya D. Ethical preparedness of data monitoring committees (DMCs) to oversee international clinical trials: a qualitative descriptive study. BMJ Glob Health 2024; 9:e015233. [PMID: 39182924 PMCID: PMC11404254 DOI: 10.1136/bmjgh-2024-015233] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/01/2024] [Accepted: 07/31/2024] [Indexed: 08/27/2024] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION A data monitoring committee (DMC) is an independent group of experts who assess the ongoing scientific and ethical integrity of a study through periodic analyses of study data. The objective of this study was to explore the extent to which the structure, membership and deliberations of DMCs enable them to address ethical issues. METHODS We conducted qualitative individual interviews (n=22) with DMC members from countries across Africa, the Americas, South Asia and the UK. We selected interview respondents through purposive sampling, managed data using NVivo (Release V.1.7) and analysed data thematically. RESULTS All respondents were highly experienced professionals; many (18/22) had received training in medicine and/or statistics. One respondent had academic qualifications in ethics, and four indicated that they served on DMCs as ethicists. While respondents generally felt DMCs should be required for studies that were high-risk or enrolled vulnerable populations, some were concerned about the overuse of DMCs. There were divergent views on the necessity of geographical and disciplinary representation in DMC membership, including about whether ethicists were helpful. Many respondents described a DMC member recruitment process that they felt was somewhat exclusive. While one respondent received DMC-specific training, most described learning on the job. Respondents generally agreed that study protocols and DMC charters were key guiding documents for addressing ethical issues and described DMC deliberations that often, but not always, involved consensus-building. CONCLUSION This study is one of the first to consider the ethical implications of DMC structure, membership and deliberations. The potential overuse of DMCs, DMC member recruitment processes that seem somewhat insular, limited training for DMC members, and divergent approaches to deliberation may limit the capacity of DMCs for addressing ethical issues. Further research on DMC structure and processes could help enhance the ethical preparedness of DMCs.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Alex Hinga
- Health Systems and Research Ethics Department, KEMRI-Wellcome Trust Research Programme, Kilifi, Kenya
| | - Akram Ibrahim
- Mary Ann & J. Milburn Smith Child Health Outcomes, Research, and Evaluation Center, Stanley Manne Children's Research Institute, Ann & Robert H Lurie Children's Hospital, Chicago, Illinois, USA
| | | | - Mickayla Jones
- Mary Ann & J. Milburn Smith Child Health Outcomes, Research, and Evaluation Center, Stanley Manne Children's Research Institute, Ann & Robert H Lurie Children's Hospital, Chicago, Illinois, USA
| | - Lisa Eckstein
- School of Law, University of Tasmania, Hobart, Tasmania, Australia
| | - Annette Rid
- Department of Bioethics, The Clinical Center & Division of International Science Policy, Planning and Evaluation, Fogarty International Center, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - Seema K Shah
- Mary Ann & J. Milburn Smith Child Health Outcomes, Research, and Evaluation Center, Stanley Manne Children's Research Institute, Ann & Robert H Lurie Children's Hospital, Chicago, Illinois, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, Illinois, USA
| | - Dorcas Kamuya
- Health Systems and Research Ethics Department, KEMRI-Wellcome Trust Research Programme, Kilifi, Kenya
- Nuffield Department of Clinical Medicine, Centre for Tropical Medicine and Global Health, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Núñez-Núñez M, Maes-Carballo M, Mignini LE, Chien PFW, Khalaf Y, Fawzy M, Zamora J, Khan KS, Bueno-Cavanillas A. Research integrity in randomized clinical trials: A scoping umbrella review. Int J Gynaecol Obstet 2023; 162:860-876. [PMID: 37062861 DOI: 10.1002/ijgo.14762] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/16/2023] [Revised: 03/12/2023] [Accepted: 03/16/2023] [Indexed: 04/18/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Randomized clinical trials (RCTs) are experiencing a crisis of confidence in their trustworthiness. Although a comprehensive literature search yielded several reviews on RCT integrity, an overarching overview is lacking. OBJECTIVES The authors undertook a scoping umbrella review of the research integrity literature concerning RCTs. SEARCH STRATEGY AND SELECTION CRITERIA Following prospective registration (https://osf.io/3ursn), two reviewers independently searched PubMed, Scopus, The Cochrane Library, and Google Scholar, without language or time restrictions, until November 2021. The authors included systematic reviews covering any aspect of research integrity throughout the RCT lifecycle. DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS The authors assessed methodological quality using a modified AMSTAR 2 (A Measurement Tool to Assess Systematic Reviews) tool and collated the main findings. MAIN RESULTS A total of 55 relevant reviews, summarizing 6001 studies (median per review, 63; range, 8-1106) from 1964 to 2021, had an overall critically low quality of 96% (53 reviews). Topics covered included general aspects (15%), design and approval (22%), conduct and monitoring (11%), reporting (38%), postpublication concerns (2%), and future research (13%). The most common integrity issues covered were ethics (18%) and transparency (18%). CONCLUSIONS Low-quality reviews identified various integrity issues across the RCT lifecycle, emphasizing the importance of high ethical standards and professionalism while highlighting gaps in the integrity landscape. Multistakeholder consensus is needed to develop specific RCT integrity standards.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- María Núñez-Núñez
- Pharmacy Department, University Hospital Clínico San Cecilio, Granada, Spain
- Biomedical research institute of Granada (IBS-Granada), Granada, Spain
- Consortium for Biomedical Research in Epidemiology and Public Health (CIBERESP-Spain), Madrid, Spain
| | - Marta Maes-Carballo
- General Surgery Department. Breast Cancer Unit, Complexo Hospitalario de Ourense, Ourense, Spain
- General Surgery Department, Hospital Público Verín, Ourense, Spain
| | | | | | - Yacoub Khalaf
- Guy's & St Thomas' Hospital Foundation Trust, London, UK
| | - Mohamed Fawzy
- IbnSina (Sohag), Banon (Assiut), Qena (Qena), Amshag (Sohag) IVF Facilities, Cairo, Egypt
| | - Javier Zamora
- Consortium for Biomedical Research in Epidemiology and Public Health (CIBERESP-Spain), Madrid, Spain
- Clinical Biostatistics Unit, Hospital Ramón y Cajal (IRYCIS), Madrid, Spain
| | - Khalid S Khan
- Consortium for Biomedical Research in Epidemiology and Public Health (CIBERESP-Spain), Madrid, Spain
- Preventive Medicine and Public Health, University of Granada Faculty of Medicine, Granada, Spain
| | - Aurora Bueno-Cavanillas
- Consortium for Biomedical Research in Epidemiology and Public Health (CIBERESP-Spain), Madrid, Spain
- Preventive Medicine and Public Health, University of Granada Faculty of Medicine, Granada, Spain
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Valencia-Alonso J, Pineda-Cervantes GA, Franco-Rico JA. [Comment on articule "Bibliometric analysis of scientific publications on COVID-19 elaborated by staff of the Instituto Mexicano del Seguro Social"]. REVISTA MEDICA DEL INSTITUTO MEXICANO DEL SEGURO SOCIAL 2023; 61:406-408. [PMID: 37535947 PMCID: PMC10484543 DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.8200062] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/05/2023]
Abstract
In this letter to the editor, some doubts are expressed about the methodology used in the article Bibliometric analysis of scientific publications on COVID-19 elaborated by staff of the Instituto Mexicano del Seguro Social with the purpose of clarifying them and strengthening the scientific rigor with which it was carried out the investigation. The replicability of the studies is essential for other researchers to be able to assess the quality of the study and the validity of its results, in addition to ensuring the transparency of the science.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jorge Valencia-Alonso
- Instituto Politécnico Nacional, Escuela Nacional de Biblioteconomía y Archivonomía, Departamento de Biblioteconomía. Ciudad de México, México Instituto Politécnico NacionalMéxico
| | - Gamaliel Andrés Pineda-Cervantes
- Instituto Politécnico Nacional, Escuela Nacional de Biblioteconomía y Archivonomía, Departamento de Biblioteconomía. Ciudad de México, México Instituto Politécnico NacionalMéxico
| | - José Antonio Franco-Rico
- Instituto Politécnico Nacional, Escuela Nacional de Biblioteconomía y Archivonomía, Departamento de Biblioteconomía. Ciudad de México, México Instituto Politécnico NacionalMéxico
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Strong B, Oostema JA, Nikroo N, Hussain M, Reeves MJ. Early Termination of Acute Stroke Randomized Controlled Trials Published Between 2013 and 2020: A Systematic Review. Circ Cardiovasc Qual Outcomes 2021; 14:e007995. [PMID: 34932376 DOI: 10.1161/circoutcomes.121.007995] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Termination of a clinical trial before the maximum planned sample size is accrued can occur for multiple valid reasons but has implications for the interpretation of results. We undertook a systematic review of contemporary acute stroke trials to document the prevalence of and reasons for early termination. METHODS We searched MEDLINE for randomized controlled trials of acute stroke therapies published between 2013 and 2020 in 9 major clinical journals. Manuscripts describing the primary results of phase 2 and phase 3 trials of acute stroke care were included. Data on study characteristics and adherence to CONSORT reporting guidelines were abstracted and summarized using descriptive statistics. Where feasible, we compared treatment effect sizes between trials terminated early and those not terminated early. RESULTS Of 96 randomized controlled trials, 39 (41%) were terminated early, 84 (88%) had a data and safety monitoring board, and 57 (59%) reported a prespecified statistical stopping rule. Among the 39 trials terminated early, 10 were discontinued for benefit, 10 due to logistical issues, 8 for futility, 6 because of newly available evidence, 1 for harm, and 4 for other or a combination of reasons. The median percentage of the maximum planned sample size accrued among trials terminated early was 63% (range, 8%-89%). Only 55% of trials (53 of 96) reported whether interim efficacy analyses were conducted, as recommended by the CONSORT guidelines. When 10 endovascular therapy trials were compared according to early termination status, the effect sizes of trials terminated early for benefit were only modestly larger than those not terminated early. CONCLUSIONS The high prevalence of early termination in combination with the wide variety of reasons underscores the necessity of meticulous trial planning and adherence to methodological and reporting guidelines for early termination. Registration: URL: https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/; Unique identifier: CRD42019128727.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Brent Strong
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Michigan State University, East Lansing (B.S., N.N., M.H., M.J.R.)
| | - J Adam Oostema
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Michigan State University, Grand Rapids (J.A.O.)
| | - Nadia Nikroo
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Michigan State University, East Lansing (B.S., N.N., M.H., M.J.R.)
| | - Murtaza Hussain
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Michigan State University, East Lansing (B.S., N.N., M.H., M.J.R.)
| | - Mathew J Reeves
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Michigan State University, East Lansing (B.S., N.N., M.H., M.J.R.)
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Van Norman GA. Data Safety and Monitoring Boards Should Be Required for Both Early- and Late-Phase Clinical Trials. JACC Basic Transl Sci 2021; 6:887-896. [PMID: 34869954 PMCID: PMC8617574 DOI: 10.1016/j.jacbts.2021.09.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/27/2021] [Accepted: 09/27/2021] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Gail A. Van Norman
- Address for correspondence: Dr Gail A. Van Norman, Department of Anesthesia and Pain Medicine, University of Washington, 2601 West Boston Street, Seattle, Washington 98199, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Dworkin RH, Evans SR, Mbowe O, McDermott MP. Essential statistical principles of clinical trials of pain treatments. Pain Rep 2021; 6:e863. [PMID: 33521483 PMCID: PMC7837867 DOI: 10.1097/pr9.0000000000000863] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/15/2020] [Revised: 09/08/2020] [Accepted: 09/09/2020] [Indexed: 01/13/2023] Open
Abstract
This article presents an overview of fundamental statistical principles of clinical trials of pain treatments. Statistical considerations relevant to phase 2 proof of concept and phase 3 confirmatory randomized trials investigating efficacy and safety are discussed, including (1) research design; (2) endpoints and analyses; (3) sample size determination and statistical power; (4) missing data and trial estimands; (5) data monitoring and interim analyses; and (6) interpretation of results. Although clinical trials of pharmacologic treatments are emphasized, the key issues raised by these trials are also directly applicable to clinical trials of other types of treatments, including biologics, devices, nonpharmacologic therapies (eg, physical therapy and cognitive-behavior therapy), and complementary and integrative health interventions.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Robert H. Dworkin
- Departments of Anesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine, Neurology, and Psychiatry, and Center for Health + Technology, University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry, Rochester, NY, USA
| | - Scott R. Evans
- Department of Biostatistics and Bioinformatics and the Biostatistics Center, George, Washington University, Washington DC, USA
| | - Omar Mbowe
- Department of Biostatistics and Computational Biology, University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry, Rochester, NY, USA
| | - Michael P. McDermott
- Departments of Biostatistics and Computational Biology and Neurology, and Center for Health + Technology, University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry, Rochester, NY, USA
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Data Safety Monitoring Boards. Clin Trials 2020. [DOI: 10.1007/978-3-030-35488-6_11] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
|