[Swiss 1992/1993 publications in the area of cardiovascular diseases with reference to "good clinical practice"].
BACKGROUND
For most readers, the publication is the only source of information about a study, and therefore the quality of a publication is particularly important. On January 1, 1995, new guidelines on "Good clinical practice" were implemented in Switzerland.


OBJECTIVE
Quality assessments of Swiss publications in the field of clinical cardiovascular research in the light of these new guidelines.


METHODS
A catalogue of 119 questions was applied to 65 cardiovascular publications that appeared during the years 1992/93. The answers were quantified with the use of a point scale.


RESULTS
Publication practice as represented by the years 1992/93 can be improved on most notably in the "methods" and "results" sections of the publications, as well as with regard to medical-ethical and statistical issues. The biggest improvements in quality seem to be achievable by more precise documentation of statistical and other methodology, precise definition of the variables examined, and adaptation of the number of cases to the number of variables. In addition, description of treatment modalities and of allowed and forbidden concurrent treatments should be more precise.
Kunz
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Klinik B für Innere Medizin, Kantonsspital St. Gallen.
Krapf
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D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases; D004992:Ethics, Medical; D006801:Humans; D010506:Periodicals as Topic; D011643:Publishing; D011785:Quality Assurance, Health Care; D013557:Switzerland