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Andreasen J, Nørgaard B, Draborg E, Juhl CB, Yost J, Brunnhuber K, Robinson KA, Lund H. Justification of research using systematic reviews continues to be inconsistent in clinical health science-A systematic review and meta-analysis of meta-research studies. PLoS One 2022; 17:e0276955. [PMID: 36315526 PMCID: PMC9621455 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0276955] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/24/2022] [Accepted: 10/18/2022] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Redundancy is an unethical, unscientific, and costly challenge in clinical health research. There is a high risk of redundancy when existing evidence is not used to justify the research question when a new study is initiated. Therefore, the aim of this study was to synthesize meta-research studies evaluating if and how authors of clinical health research studies use systematic reviews when initiating a new study. METHODS Seven electronic bibliographic databases were searched (final search June 2021). Meta-research studies assessing the use of systematic reviews when justifying new clinical health studies were included. Screening and data extraction were performed by two reviewers independently. The primary outcome was defined as the percentage of original studies within the included meta-research studies using systematic reviews of previous studies to justify a new study. Results were synthesized narratively and quantitatively using a random-effects meta-analysis. The protocol has been registered in Open Science Framework (https://osf.io/nw7ch/). RESULTS Twenty-one meta-research studies were included, representing 3,621 original studies or protocols. Nineteen of the 21 studies were included in the meta-analysis. The included studies represented different disciplines and exhibited wide variability both in how the use of previous systematic reviews was assessed, and in how this was reported. The use of systematic reviews to justify new studies varied from 16% to 87%. The mean percentage of original studies using systematic reviews to justify their study was 42% (95% CI: 36% to 48%). CONCLUSION Justification of new studies in clinical health research using systematic reviews is highly variable, and fewer than half of new clinical studies in health science were justified using a systematic review. Research redundancy is a challenge for clinical health researchers, as well as for funders, ethics committees, and journals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jane Andreasen
- Department of Physiotherapy and Occupational Therapy, Aalborg University Hospital, Denmark and Public Health and Epidemiology Group, Department of Health, Science and Technology, Aalborg University, Aalborg, Denmark
- * E-mail:
| | - Birgitte Nørgaard
- Department of Public Health, University of Southern Denmark Odense, Denmark
| | - Eva Draborg
- Department of Public Health, University of Southern Denmark Odense, Denmark
| | - Carsten Bogh Juhl
- Department of Sports Science and Clinical Biomechanics, University of Southern Denmark and Department of Physiotherapy and Occupational Therapy, Copenhagen University Hospital, Herlev and Gentofte, Herlev, Denmark
| | - Jennifer Yost
- M. Louise Fitzpatrick College of Nursing, Villanova University, Villanova, PA, United States of America
| | | | - Karen A. Robinson
- Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, United States of America
| | - Hans Lund
- Department of Evidence-Based Practice, Western Norway University of Applied Sciences, Bergen, Norway
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2
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Draborg E, Andreasen J, Nørgaard B, Juhl CB, Yost J, Brunnhuber K, Robinson KA, Lund H. Systematic reviews are rarely used to contextualise new results-a systematic review and meta-analysis of meta-research studies. Syst Rev 2022; 11:189. [PMID: 36064741 PMCID: PMC9446778 DOI: 10.1186/s13643-022-02062-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/25/2022] [Accepted: 08/23/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Results of new studies should be interpreted in the context of what is already known to compare results and build the state of the science. This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to identify and synthesise results from meta-research studies examining if original studies within health use systematic reviews to place their results in the context of earlier, similar studies. METHODS We searched MEDLINE (OVID), EMBASE (OVID), and the Cochrane Methodology Register for meta-research studies reporting the use of systematic reviews to place results of original clinical studies in the context of existing studies. The primary outcome was the percentage of original studies included in the meta-research studies using systematic reviews or meta-analyses placing new results in the context of existing studies. Two reviewers independently performed screening and data extraction. Data were synthesised using narrative synthesis and a random-effects meta-analysis was performed to estimate the mean proportion of original studies placing their results in the context of earlier studies. The protocol was registered in Open Science Framework. RESULTS We included 15 meta-research studies, representing 1724 original studies. The mean percentage of original studies within these meta-research studies placing their results in the context of existing studies was 30.7% (95% CI [23.8%, 37.6%], I2=87.4%). Only one of the meta-research studies integrated results in a meta-analysis, while four integrated their results within a systematic review; the remaining cited or referred to a systematic review. The results of this systematic review are characterised by a high degree of heterogeneity and should be interpreted cautiously. CONCLUSION Our systematic review demonstrates a low rate of and great variability in using systematic reviews to place new results in the context of existing studies. On average, one third of the original studies contextualised their results. Improvement is still needed in researchers' use of prior research systematically and transparently-also known as the use of an evidence-based research approach, to contribute to the accumulation of new evidence on which future studies should be based. SYSTEMATIC REVIEW REGISTRATION Open Science registration number https://osf.io/8gkzu/.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eva Draborg
- Department of Public Health, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark
| | - Jane Andreasen
- Department of Physiotherapy and Occupational Therapy, Aalborg University Hospital, Denmark and Public Health and Epidemiology Group, Department of Health, Science and Technology, Aalborg University, Denmark, Aalborg, Denmark
| | - Birgitte Nørgaard
- Department of Public Health, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark
| | - Carsten Bogh Juhl
- Department of Sports Science and Clinical Biomechanics, University of Southern Denmark and Department of Physiotherapy and Occupational Therapy, Copenhagen University Hospital, Herlev and Gentofte, Denmark
| | - Jennifer Yost
- M. Louise Fitzpatrick College of Nursing, Villanova University, Villanova, USA
| | | | | | - Hans Lund
- Section of Evidence-Based Practice, Western Norway University of Applied Sciences, Bergen, Norway
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Guo K, Wang S, Shang X, E F, Hou L, Li J, Li Y, Yang K, Li X. The effect of Varenicline and Bupropion on smoking cessation: A network meta-analysis of 20 randomized controlled trials. Addict Behav 2022; 131:107329. [PMID: 35397262 DOI: 10.1016/j.addbeh.2022.107329] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/15/2021] [Revised: 04/02/2022] [Accepted: 04/03/2022] [Indexed: 01/31/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE A network meta-analysis (NMA) was conducted to investigate the effect of varenicline (VAR), bupropion (BUP), and nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) on smoking cessation. METHODS Eight databases were searched in May 2021, and only randomized controlled trials (RCTs) using varenicline, bupropion, or NRT (single or combined) for smoking cessation were included. The risk of bias in the included RCTs was assessed using the Cochrane Handbook tool. Stata 15.1 software was used to perform NMA, and the quality of the evidence was evaluated using Confidence in Network Meta-analysis (CINeMA). FINDINGS Twenty RCTs involving 16,702 smokers were included. The risk of bias results showed that 10 RCTs were rated as high, three were low, and seven were unclear. A total of 21 pairs were compared based on seven interventions. The NMA showed that, compared to the placebo (PLA), the other six interventions had significant efficacy in smoking cessation, where VAR + BUP showed the best effect of all treatments (odds ratio (OR) = 6.08, 95% confidence interval (CI) [3.47, 10.66]). Moreover, VAR + BUP was superior to VAR + NRT (OR = 1.66, 95% CI [1.07, 2.59]) and the three monotherapies (VAR, BUP, and NRT). In the monotherapies, the results of pairwise comparisons of VAR, BUP, and NRT did not show significant differences. Finally, the surface under the cumulative ranking curve (SUCRA) value indicated that VAR + BUP had the greatest probability of becoming the best intervention. CONCLUSIONS The efficacy of VAR, BUP, and NRT alone increased the odds of smoking abstinence better than the placebo, combined interventions were superior to monotherapy, and VAR combined with other interventions had a better smoking cessation effect.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kangle Guo
- Health Technology Assessment Center/Evidence-Based Social Science Research Center, School of Public Health, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, China; Evidence Based Medicine Center, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, China; Key Laboratory of Evidence Based Medicine and Knowledge Translation of Gansu Province, Lanzhou 730000, China
| | | | - Xue Shang
- Health Technology Assessment Center/Evidence-Based Social Science Research Center, School of Public Health, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, China; Evidence Based Medicine Center, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, China; Key Laboratory of Evidence Based Medicine and Knowledge Translation of Gansu Province, Lanzhou 730000, China
| | - Fenfen E
- Health Technology Assessment Center/Evidence-Based Social Science Research Center, School of Public Health, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, China; Evidence Based Medicine Center, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, China; Key Laboratory of Evidence Based Medicine and Knowledge Translation of Gansu Province, Lanzhou 730000, China
| | - Liangying Hou
- Evidence Based Medicine Center, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, China; Key Laboratory of Evidence Based Medicine and Knowledge Translation of Gansu Province, Lanzhou 730000, China
| | - Jieyun Li
- Evidence Based Medicine Center, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, China; Key Laboratory of Evidence Based Medicine and Knowledge Translation of Gansu Province, Lanzhou 730000, China
| | - Yanfei Li
- Evidence Based Medicine Center, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, China; Key Laboratory of Evidence Based Medicine and Knowledge Translation of Gansu Province, Lanzhou 730000, China
| | - Kehu Yang
- Health Technology Assessment Center/Evidence-Based Social Science Research Center, School of Public Health, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, China; Evidence Based Medicine Center, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, China; Key Laboratory of Evidence Based Medicine and Knowledge Translation of Gansu Province, Lanzhou 730000, China.
| | - Xiuxia Li
- Health Technology Assessment Center/Evidence-Based Social Science Research Center, School of Public Health, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, China; Evidence Based Medicine Center, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, China; Key Laboratory of Evidence Based Medicine and Knowledge Translation of Gansu Province, Lanzhou 730000, China.
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Nørgaard B, Briel M, Chrysostomou S, Ristic Medic D, Buttigieg SC, Kiisk E, Puljak L, Bala M, Pericic TP, Lesniak W, Zając J, Lund H, Pieper D. A systematic review of meta-research studies finds substantial methodological heterogeneity in citation analyses to monitor evidence-based research. J Clin Epidemiol 2022; 150:126-141. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jclinepi.2022.06.021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/05/2022] [Revised: 06/21/2022] [Accepted: 06/29/2022] [Indexed: 10/17/2022]
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5
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Fedyk M, Dewar B, Jurkovic L, Chevrier S, Kitto S, Rodriguez R, Saginur R, Dowlatshahi D, Fahed R, Shamy M. How Are Randomized Clinical Trials Ethically Justified? A Systematic Scoping Review and Thematic Analysis of Reasons that Ethically Justify Randomized Clinical Trials. J Clin Epidemiol 2022; 147:160-167. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jclinepi.2022.04.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/07/2021] [Revised: 12/21/2021] [Accepted: 04/05/2022] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
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Nørgaard B, Draborg E, Andreasen J, Juhl CB, Yost J, Brunnhuber K, Robinson KA, Lund H. Systematic Reviews are Rarely Used to Inform Study Design - a Systematic Review and Meta-analysis. J Clin Epidemiol 2022; 145:1-13. [PMID: 35045317 DOI: 10.1016/j.jclinepi.2022.01.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/02/2021] [Revised: 12/28/2021] [Accepted: 01/13/2022] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Our aim was to identify and synthesize the results from meta-research studies to determine whether and how authors of original studies in clinical health research use systematic reviews when designing new studies. STUDY DESIGN AND SETTING For this systematic review, we searched MEDLINE (OVID), Embase (OVID) and the Cochrane Methodology Register. We included meta-research studies and primary outcome was the percentage of original studies using systematic reviews to design their study. Risk of bias was assessed using an ad hoc created list of ten items. The results are presented both as a narrative synthesis and a meta-analysis. RESULTS Sixteen studies were included. The use of a systematic review to inform the design of new clinical studies varied between 0% and 73%, with a mean percentage of 17%. The number of components of the design in which information from previous systematic reviews was used varied from three to eleven. CONCLUSION Clinical health research is characterized by variability regarding the extent to which systematic reviews are used to guide the design. An evidence-based research (EBR) approach towards research design when new clinical health studies are designed is necessary to decrease potential research redundancy and increase end-user value.
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Affiliation(s)
- Birgitte Nørgaard
- Department of Public Health, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark.
| | - Eva Draborg
- Department of Public Health, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark
| | - Jane Andreasen
- Department of Physiotherapy and Occupational Therapy, Aalborg University Hospital, Denmark and Public Health and Epidemiology Group, Department of Health, Science and Technology, Aalborg University, Aalborg, Denmark
| | - Carsten Bogh Juhl
- Department of Sports Science and Clinical Biomechanics, University of Southern Denmark and Department of Physiotherapy and Occupational Therapy, University of Copenhagen Herlev and Gentofte, Denmark
| | - Jennifer Yost
- M. Louise Fitzpatrick College of Nursing, Villanova University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
| | | | | | - Hans Lund
- Department of Evidence-Based Practice, Western Norway University of Applied Sciences, Bergen, Norway
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Patel K, Cobourne MT, Pandis N, Seehra J. Are orthodontic randomised controlled trials justified with a citation of an appropriate systematic review? Prog Orthod 2021; 22:48. [PMID: 34918200 PMCID: PMC8677858 DOI: 10.1186/s40510-021-00395-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/29/2021] [Accepted: 12/06/2021] [Indexed: 01/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Background A systematic review of the evidence should be undertaken to support the justification for undertaking a clinical trial. The aim of this study was to examine whether reports of orthodontic Randomised Clinical Trials (RCTs) cite prior systematic reviews (SR) to explain the rationale or justification of the trial. Study characteristics that predicated the citation of SR in the RCT report were also explored. Material and methods Orthodontic RCTs published between 1st January 2010 to 31st December 2020 in seven orthodontic journals were identified. All titles and abstracts were screened independently by two authors. Descriptive statistics and associations were assessed for the study characteristics. Logistic regression was used to identify predicators of SR inclusion in the trial report. Results 301 RCTs fulfilling the eligibility criteria were assessed. 220 SRs were available of which 74.5% (N = 164) were cited, and 24.5% (N = 56) were not included but were available in the literature within 12 months of trial commencement. When a SR was not included in the introduction or no SR was available within 12 months of trial commencement, interventional studies were commonly cited. The continent of the corresponding author predicated the possibility of inclusion of a SR in the introduction (OR 0.36; 95% CI 0.18–0.71; p = 0.003). Conclusions A quarter of orthodontic RCTs (24.5%) included in this study did not cite a SR in the introduction section to justify the rationale of the trial when a relevant SR was available. To reduce research waste and optimal usage of resources, researchers should identify or conduct a systematic review of the evidence to support the rationale and justification of the trial.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kishan Patel
- Department of Orthodontics, Faculty of Dentistry, Oral and Craniofacial Sciences, King's College London, Kings College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, Denmark Hill, London, SE5 9RS, UK
| | - Martyn T Cobourne
- Centre for Craniofacial Development and Regeneration, Faculty of Dentistry, Oral and Craniofacial Sciences, King's College London, Guy's Hospital, Guy's and St Thomas NHS Foundation Trust, London, SE1 9RT, UK
| | - Nikolaos Pandis
- Department of Orthodontics and Dentofacial Orthopedics, Dental School/Medical Faculty, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Jadbinder Seehra
- Centre for Craniofacial Development and Regeneration, Faculty of Dentistry, Oral and Craniofacial Sciences, King's College London, Guy's Hospital, Guy's and St Thomas NHS Foundation Trust, London, SE1 9RT, UK.
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8
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Wang D, Chen L, Wang L, Hua F, Li J, Li Y, Zhang Y, Fan H, Li W, Clarke M. Abstracts for reports of randomised trials of COVID-19 interventions had low quality and high spin. J Clin Epidemiol 2021; 139:107-120. [PMID: 34224834 PMCID: PMC8253697 DOI: 10.1016/j.jclinepi.2021.06.027] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2020] [Revised: 04/22/2021] [Accepted: 06/29/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES To assess the reporting quality of abstracts for published randomized controlled trials (RCTs) of interventions for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), including the use of spin strategies and the level of spin for RCTs with statistically non-significant primary outcomes, and to explore potential predictors for reporting quality and the severity of spin. STUDY DESIGN AND SETTING PubMed was searched to find RCTs that tested interventions for COVID-19, and the reporting quality and spin in the abstracts were assessed. Linear regression analyses were used to identify potential predictors. RESULTS Forty RCT abstracts were included in our assessment of reporting quality, and a higher word count in the abstract was significantly correlated with higher reporting scores (95% CI 0.044 to 0.658, P=0.026). Multiple spin strategies were identified. Our multivariate analyses showed that geographical origin was associated with severity of spin, with research from non-Asian regions containing fewer spin strategies (95% CI -0.760 to -0.099, P=0.013). CONCLUSIONS The reporting quality of abstracts of RCTs of interventions for COVID-19 is far from satisfactory. A relatively high proportion of the abstracts contained spin, and the findings reported in the results and conclusion sections of these abstracts need to be interpreted with caution.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dongguang Wang
- Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, West China Hospital/West China School of Medicine, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Lingmin Chen
- Department of Anesthesiology and National Clinical Research Center for Geriatrics, West China Hospital, Sichuan University & The Research Units of West China (2018RU012, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences), Chengdu, China
| | - Lian Wang
- Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, West China Hospital/West China School of Medicine, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Fang Hua
- Center for Evidenced-Based Stomatology, School & Hospital of Stomatology, Wuhan University, Wuhan, China; Cochrane Oral Health, Division of Dentistry, School of Medical Sciences, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, University of Manchester, Manchester Academic Health Science Center, Manchester, UK
| | - Juan Li
- School of Health Preservation and Rehabilitation, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, China
| | - Yuxi Li
- School of Health Preservation and Rehabilitation, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, China
| | - Yonggang Zhang
- Department of Periodical Press, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Hong Fan
- Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, West China Hospital/West China School of Medicine, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China.
| | - Weimin Li
- Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, West China Hospital/West China School of Medicine, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China.
| | - Mike Clarke
- Northern Ireland Clinical Trials Unit and Methodology Hub, Centre for Public Health, Queen's University Belfast, Belfast, UK.
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Shepard S, Wise A, Johnson BS, Sajjadi NB, Hartwell M, Vassar M. Are randomized controlled trials in urology being conducted with justification? J Osteopath Med 2021; 121:665-671. [PMID: 34019751 DOI: 10.1515/jom-2021-0078] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/08/2021] [Accepted: 04/11/2021] [Indexed: 01/21/2023]
Abstract
CONTEXT Considering the substantial increase in research funding in the field of urology, minimizing research waste should be a top priority. Systematic reviews (SRs) compile available evidence regarding a clinical question into a single critical resource. If properly utilized, SRs can help minimize redundant studies, focus attention to unsubstantiated treatments, and reduce research waste. OBJECTIVES To appraise the use of SRs as justification for conducting randomized controlled trials (RCTs) published in high impact urology journals, and to report the ways SRs were incorporated into RCT manuscripts published in the top four urology journals by h5 index. METHODS On December 13, 2019, a PubMed search was conducted for RCTs published in the top four urology journals according to the Google Scholar h5-index: European Urology, BJU International, The Journal of Urology, and Urology. For an article to be eligible for inclusion in this study, it must have been a full length RCT, published between November 30, 2014, and November 30, 2019 in one of the identified journals, reported only human subjects, and been accessible in English. The following data points were extracted independently by select investigators from each included RCT: manuscript title, year of publication, journal title, type of intervention (drug, medical device, procedure, other), funding source (government, hospital/university, industry, mixed) type of trial (parallel groups, crossover, cluster), and total number of participants reported in each RCT. The included RCTs were searched for reference to an SR, which was then recorded as "yes - verbatim," "yes - inferred," or "not used as justification" and the location in the manuscript where the SR was cited was recorded. RESULTS Of the 566 articles retrieved, 276 were included. Overall, 150 (54.3%) RCTs cited an SR as either verbatim (108; 39.1%) or inferred (42; 15.2%) trial justification, while 126 (45.7%) did not use an SR for RCT justification. Of those 126, 107 (84.9%) RCTs did not cite an SR to any extent. A significant association was noted between verbatim justification and type of intervention (x 2=20.23, p=0.017), with 18 of 31 (58.1%) "other" interventions (i.e. psychosocial intervention, exercise programs, and online therapy) having an SR cited as verbatim justification. Only 39 of 118 (33.1%) pharmaceutical trials referenced an SR as verbatim justification. Of 403 systematic review citations, 205 (50.8%) appeared in the Discussion section, while 15 (3.7%) were in the Methods section. CONCLUSIONS We found that RCTs published in four high impact urology journals inconsistently referenced an SR as justification and 39.1% of our entire sample did not reference an SR at all. These findings indicate that a divide exists between the instruction and implementation of evidence based medicine in the field of urology concerning RCTs published in the top four journals. Educating clinicians and researchers on the use of SR as justification for RCTs in urology may reduce research waste and increase the quality of RCTs in the field.
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Affiliation(s)
- Samuel Shepard
- Office of Medical Student Research, Oklahoma State University Center for Health Sciences, Tulsa, OK, USA
| | - Audrey Wise
- Office of Medical Student Research, Oklahoma State University Center for Health Sciences, Tulsa, OK, USA
| | - Bradley S Johnson
- Office of Medical Student Research, Oklahoma State University Center for Health Sciences, Tulsa, OK, USA
| | - Nicholas B Sajjadi
- Office of Medical Student Research, Oklahoma State University Center for Health Sciences, Tulsa, OK, USA
| | - Micah Hartwell
- Office of Medical Student Research, Oklahoma State University Center for Health Sciences, Tulsa, OK, USA.,Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Oklahoma State University Center for Health Sciences, Tulsa, OK, USA
| | - Matt Vassar
- Office of Medical Student Research, Oklahoma State University Center for Health Sciences, Tulsa, OK, USA.,Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Oklahoma State University Center for Health Sciences, Tulsa, OK, USA
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10
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Kostis JB. Clinical trials may be unethical in certain instances. Int J Cardiol Hypertens 2020; 7:100057. [PMID: 33447778 PMCID: PMC7803080 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijchy.2020.100057] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/17/2020] [Revised: 10/05/2020] [Accepted: 10/09/2020] [Indexed: 12/05/2022] Open
Abstract
After review of the literature, I conclude that clinical trials may be unethical.
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11
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Kim D, Hasford J. Redundant trials can be prevented, if the EU clinical trial regulation is applied duly. BMC Med Ethics 2020; 21:107. [PMID: 33115456 PMCID: PMC7592564 DOI: 10.1186/s12910-020-00536-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/23/2019] [Accepted: 09/15/2020] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
The problem of wasteful clinical trials has been debated relentlessly in the medical community. To a significant extent, it is attributed to redundant trials - studies that are carried out to address questions, which can be answered satisfactorily on the basis of existing knowledge and accessible evidence from prior research. This article presents the first evaluation of the potential of the EU Clinical Trials Regulation 536/2014, which entered into force in 2014 but is expected to become applicable at the end of 2021, to prevent such trials. Having reviewed provisions related to the trial authorisation, we propose how certain regulatory requirements for the assessment of trial applications can and should be interpreted and applied by national research ethics committees and other relevant authorities in order to avoid redundant trials and, most importantly, preclude the unnecessary recruitment of trial participants and their unjustified exposure to health risks.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daria Kim
- Research Fellow, Max Planck Institute for Innovation and Competition, Marstallplatz 1, 81545 Munich, Germany
| | - Joerg Hasford
- Ludwig-Maximilians-University of Munich, The Institute for Medical Information Processing, Biometry, and Epidemiology, and Chairman of the Permanent Working Party of Research Ethics Committees in Germany, Scharnitzerstaße 7, 82166 Gräfelfing, Germany
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