title: Recent randomized controlled trials in otolaryngology.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To assess recent trends in the prevalence and quality of reporting of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) in 4 otolaryngology journals.
  
  
  METHODS
  Methodology and reporting analysis.
  
  
  METHODS
  Randomized controlled trials in 4 otolaryngology journals.
  
  
  METHODS
  All RCTs published from 2011 to 2013 in 4 major otolaryngology journals were examined for characteristics of study design, quality of design and reporting, and funding.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of 5279 articles published in 4 leading otolaryngology journals from 2011 to 2013, 189 (3.3%) were RCTs. The majority of RCTs were clinical studies (86%), with the largest proportion consisting of sinonasal topics (31%). Most interventions were medical (46%), followed by surgical (38%) and mixed (16%). In terms of quality, randomization method was reported in 54% of RCTs, blinding in 33%, and adverse events in 65%. Intention-to-treat analysis was used in 32%; P values were reported in 87% and confidence intervals in 10%. Research funding was most often absent or not reported (55%), followed by not-for-profit (25%).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Based on review of 4 otolaryngology journals, RCTs are still a small proportion of all published studies in the field of otolaryngology. There seem to be trends toward improvement in quality of design and reporting of RCTs, although many quality features remain suboptimal. Practitioners both designing and interpreting RCTs should critically evaluate RCTs for quality.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, South Carolina, USA sirf03@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Sarfaraz M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Banglawala
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, South Carolina, USA.
authors.forename: Lauren A
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Lawrence
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, South Carolina, USA.
authors.forename: Emily
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Franko-Tobin
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, South Carolina, USA.
authors.forename: Zachary M
authors.initials: ZM
authors.lastname: Soler
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, South Carolina, USA.
authors.forename: Rodney J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Schlosser
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Stanford Research Prevention Center, Stanford University, Stanford, California, USA Department of Health Research and Policy, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford University, Stanford, California, USA Department of Statistics, Stanford University School of Humanities and Sciences, Stanford University, Stanford, California, USA Meta-Research Innovation Center at Stanford, Stanford University, Stanford, California, USA.
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ioannidis
mesh_terms: D019317:Evidence-Based Medicine / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D010036:Otolaryngology / Q000639:trends*; D010038:Otorhinolaryngologic Diseases / Q000628:therapy*; D010506:Periodicals as Topic; D058996:Quality Improvement; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic / Q000592:standards*
keywords: clinical trial; evidence-based medicine; otolaryngology journals; quality of evidence; randomized control trial