Use of core outcome sets was low in clinical trials published in major medical journals

OBJECTIVES

To examine current practices in late-phase trials published in major medical journals and examine trialists' views about core outcome set (COS) use.

STUDY DESIGN AND SETTING

A sequential multi-methods study was conducted. We examined late-phase trials published between October 2019 and March 2020 in JAMA, NEJM, The Lancet, BMJ, and Annals of Internal Medicine. The COMET database was searched for COS potentially relevant to trials not reporting using a COS; overlap of trial and COS outcomes was examined. An online survey examined awareness of, and decisions to search for and use a COS.

RESULTS

Ninety-five trials were examined; 93 (98%) did not report using a COS. Relevant COS were identified for 31 trials (33%). Core outcomes were measured in 9 (23%) studies; all trials measured at least one core outcome. Thirty-one trialists (33%) completed our survey. The most common barrier to COS use was trialist's own outcome preferences and choice (68%). The most common perceived facilitator was awareness and knowledge about COS (90%).

CONCLUSION

COS use in this cohort of trials was low, even when relevant COS were available. Increased use of COS in clinical trials can improve evaluation of intervention effects and evidence synthesis and reduce research waste.

Bibliographical Characteristics of North Korean Medical Journals and Articles

The aim of our work was to analyze the bibliographical characteristics of 9 North Korean medical journals and articles. All journals show only ten pieces of information, such as publication dates and table of contents, and do not provide submission guidelines and journal policy. Most of the journals were published four times a year. Editorials often share government policy. Research articles are very short and compressed. The journals often publish articles on oriental medicine and medical information useful to the public. In conclusion, the journals were published in their own unique style and format, which are far from the global standard.

Science production in Iran: The scenario of Iranian medical journals

In Iran, the number of published articles has increased significantly in the basic and applied sciences including medicine and its subspecialties during the recent years. The present study reviewed Iranian science production in medicine, focusing on Iranian medical journals and assessing the current status of Iranian medical journals in several information databases. The study revealed that only a few number of Iranian biomedical journals were indexed by Web of Science, Medline, Scopus and Biological abstract, but most of them have been covered by Index Copernicus and Index Medicus for Eastern Mediterranean Region. Observing some important factors such as journal's basic publishing standards may increase the number of Iranian medical journals indexed by reputable information databases and improve Iranian contribution to the world science.