Methodological reporting of randomized clinical trials in major gastroenterology and hepatology journals in 2006.
To determine the current quality of reporting of randomized clinical trials (RCTs) in the field of gastroenterology and hepatology, we evaluated the methodological reporting of RCTs in six major gastroenterology and hepatology journals. The methodological quality, including generation of the allocation sequence, allocation concealment, double-blinding, and sample size calculation; number of patients; disease area; and funding source was also retrieved from each trial, and the relevant trials were identified by searching MEDLINE in 2006 using a highly sensitive search strategy. The status of reporting the methodological quality of RCTs was descriptively reported. One hundred five trials were included in the final analysis; of these, 81% (85/105) reported adequate generation of the allocation sequence, 61% (64/105) reported adequate allocation concealment, 51% (54/105) were double-blind, and 75% (79/105) reported adequate sample size calculation. The reported methodological quality greatly improved when compared with historical cohorts.


CONCLUSIONS
This study shows that there was substantial improvement in the reported methodological quality in the major gastroenterology and hepatology journals, but this quality can be further improved.
Bai
Yu
Y
Evidence-Based Medicine Group, Department of Gastroenterology, Changhai Hospital, Second Military Medical University, Shanghai, China.
Gao
Jun
J
Zou
Duo-Wu
DW
Li
Zhao-Shen
ZS
D005762:Gastroenterology; D010506:Periodicals as Topic; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic / Q000592:standards*