The reporting of randomized controlled trials in prosthodontics.
OBJECTIVE
This article evaluates the reporting of randomized controlled trials (RCT) in prosthodontics, excluding endosseous implant-based prosthetics.


METHODS
Reports of RCTs published to the end of 2000 in any language were identified using a multilayered search strategy. The Cochrane Oral Health Group specialized register, Medline, and personal libraries were searched. Three researchers appraised the articles independently using guidelines following Jadad and CONSORT, complemented with an evaluation of the appropriateness of the reported statistics.


RESULTS
Ninety-two reports of RCTs were evaluated, covering a wide spectrum of study hypotheses, topics, and issues within various prosthodontic domains. The interrater agreements on appraisal criteria were relatively high, with median kappa values ranging between 0.65 and 0.79. The reports were in general of poor methodologic quality. Randomization and procedures for concealment allocation were not described in 70% of the articles. The methods used to generate the random allocation sequence were not mentioned in 82%. The methods used to implement the random allocation sequence, clarifying whether it was concealed until all interventions were assigned, was not mentioned in 94%. Reporting who generated allocation sequence, who enrolled patients, and who assigned participants to groups was not reported in 7%. Reasons for withdrawals were not given in 23% of the reports. No attempt at blinding was reported in 72%. Statistical analysis was not described in 6% of the papers, while these analyses were assessed as appropriate for 75%, unclear in 12%, and inappropriate in 7%.


CONCLUSIONS
Few RCTs in prosthodontics are reported in accordance with contemporary guidelines for adequate reporting of trials.
Jokstad
Asbjørn
A
Institute of Clinical Dentistry, Faculty of Dentistry, University of Oslo, PO Box 1109 Blindern, N-0317 Oslo, Norway. jokstad@odont.uio.no
Esposito
Marco
M
Coulthard
Paul
P
Worthington
Helen V
HV
D000269:Adhesives / Q000737:chemistry; D003442:Crowns; D019992:Databases as Topic; D003779:Denture Design; D003828:Denture, Overlay; D003830:Denture, Partial, Fixed; D016379:Denture, Partial, Fixed, Resin-Bonded; D003832:Denture, Partial, Removable; D017408:Guidelines as Topic; D006801:Humans; D007598:Journalism, Dental; D016239:MEDLINE; D015588:Observer Variation; D009910:Oral Hygiene; D010352:Patient Dropouts; D018579:Patient Selection; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011476:Prosthodontics; D011897:Random Allocation; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic / Q000145:classification / Q000379:methods / Q000592:standards; D012042:Registries; D012107:Research Design / Q000592:standards; D013223:Statistics as Topic
D000269:Adhesives