title: Improving GRADE evidence tables part 1: a randomized trial shows improved understanding of content in summary of findings tables with a new format.
abstract: The current format of summary of findings (SoFs) tables for presenting effect estimates and associated quality of evidence improve understanding and assist users finding key information in systematic reviews. Users of SoF tables have demanded alternative formats to express findings from systematic reviews.
  
  
  
  We conducted a randomized controlled trial among systematic review users to compare the relative merits of a new format with the current formats of SoF tables regarding understanding, accessibility of information, satisfaction, and preference. Our primary goal was to show that the new format is not inferior to the current format.
  
  
  
  Of 390 potentially eligible subjects, 290 were randomized. Of seven items testing understanding, three showed similar results, two showed small differences favoring the new format, and two (understanding risk difference and quality of the evidence associated with a treatment effect) showed large differences favoring the new format [63% (95% confidence interval {CI}: 55, 71) and 62% (95% CI: 52, 71) more correct answers, respectively]. Respondents rated information in the alternative format as more accessible overall and preferred the new format over the current format.
  
  
  
  While providing at least similar levels of understanding for some items and increased understanding for others, users prefer the new format of SoF tables.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Epidemiology & Biostatistics, McMaster University, 1280 Main Street West, Hamilton, Ontario L8S 4K1, Canada; Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Faculty of Dentistry, Universidad de Chile, Sergio Livingstone Pohlhammer 943, Independencia, Santiago, Chile; Evidence-Based Dentistry Unit, Faculty of Dentistry, Universidad de Chile, Sergio Livingstone Pohlhammer 943, Independencia, Santiago, Chile.
authors.forename: Alonso
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Carrasco-Labra
authors.affiliation: Evidence-Based Dentistry Unit, Faculty of Dentistry, Universidad de Chile, Sergio Livingstone Pohlhammer 943, Independencia, Santiago, Chile; Institute of Health Policy, Management and Evaluation, University of Toronto, 155 College Street, 4th Floor, Toronto, Ontario M5T 3M6, Canada.
authors.forename: Romina
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Brignardello-Petersen
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Epidemiology & Biostatistics, McMaster University, 1280 Main Street West, Hamilton, Ontario L8S 4K1, Canada; Cochrane GRADEing (Applicability and Recommendations) Methods Group, 1280 Main Street West, Hamilton, Ontario L8S 4K1, Canada; McMaster GRADE Center, 1280 Main Street West, Hamilton, Ontario L8S 4K1, Canada.
authors.forename: Nancy
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Santesso
authors.affiliation: Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Alameda 340, Santiago, Región Metropolitana, Chile.
authors.forename: Ignacio
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Neumann
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Epidemiology & Biostatistics, McMaster University, 1280 Main Street West, Hamilton, Ontario L8S 4K1, Canada; Department of Medicine/Nephrology, University of Missouri-Kansas City, 2411 Holmes Street, Kansas City, MO 64108-2792, USA; Department of Biomedical & Health Informatics, University of Missouri-Kansas City, 2411 Holmes Street, Kansas City, MO 64108-2792, USA.
authors.forename: Reem A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Mustafa
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Epidemiology & Biostatistics, McMaster University, 1280 Main Street West, Hamilton, Ontario L8S 4K1, Canada; Biostatistics Unit, Father Sean O'Sullivan Research Centre, St Joseph's Healthcare, 50 Charlton Avenue East, 3rd Floor Martha Wing, Room H321, Hamilton, Ontario L8N 4A6, Canada.
authors.forename: Lawrence
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Mbuagbaw
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Epidemiology & Biostatistics, McMaster University, 1280 Main Street West, Hamilton, Ontario L8S 4K1, Canada.
authors.forename: Itziar
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Etxeandia Ikobaltzeta
authors.affiliation: Hofstra North Shore LIJ School of Medicine, Department of Medicine, 300 Community Drive, Manhasset, NY 11030, USA.
authors.forename: Catherine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: De Stio
authors.affiliation: Hofstra North Shore LIJ School of Medicine, Department of Medicine, 300 Community Drive, Manhasset, NY 11030, USA.
authors.forename: Lauren J
authors.initials: LJ
authors.lastname: McCullagh
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Epidemiology & Biostatistics, McMaster University, 1280 Main Street West, Hamilton, Ontario L8S 4K1, Canada; Iberoamerican Cochrane Centre, Biomedical Research Institute Sant Pau-CIBER of Epidemiology and Public Health (CIBERESP-IIB Sant Pau), C/ Sant Antoni Maria Claret 167, Pavelló 18, planta 0, 08025 Barcelona, Spain.
authors.forename: Pablo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Alonso-Coello
authors.affiliation: German Cochrane Centre, Medical Center-University of Freiburg, Berliner Allee 29, 79110 Freiburg, Germany.
authors.forename: Joerg J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Meerpohl
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Division Gjøvik, Innlandet Hospital Trust, Kyrre Greppsgt 11, 2819 Gjøvik, Norway; Norwegian Knowledge Centre for the Health Services, Pilestredet Park 7, 0130 Oslo, Norway.
authors.forename: Per Olav
authors.initials: PO
authors.lastname: Vandvik
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Epidemiology & Biostatistics, McMaster University, 1280 Main Street West, Hamilton, Ontario L8S 4K1, Canada; Cochrane GRADEing (Applicability and Recommendations) Methods Group, 1280 Main Street West, Hamilton, Ontario L8S 4K1, Canada; McMaster GRADE Center, 1280 Main Street West, Hamilton, Ontario L8S 4K1, Canada; Department of Medicine, McMaster University, 1280 Main Street West, Hamilton, Ontario L8S 4K1, Canada.
authors.forename: Jan L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Brozek
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Epidemiology & Biostatistics, McMaster University, 1280 Main Street West, Hamilton, Ontario L8S 4K1, Canada; Department of Internal Medicine, American University of Beirut, Riad-El-Solh Beirut 1107 2020, P.O. Box: 11-0236, Beirut, Lebanon.
authors.forename: Elie A
authors.initials: EA
authors.lastname: Akl
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Epidemiology, Biostatistics and Bioinformatics, University of Amsterdam, Room J2-127, PO Box 22700, 1100 DE Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Patrick
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Bossuyt
authors.affiliation: Centre for Academic Mental Health, School of Social and Community Medicine, University of Bristol, Office Barley House, Room BF11, Oakfield House, Oakfield Grove, Bristol BS8 2BN, UK.
authors.forename: Rachel
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Churchill
authors.affiliation: Norwegian Branch of the Nordic Cochrane Centre, Postboks 7004 Street Olavs plass, 0130 Oslo, Norway; Norwegian Knowledge Centre for the Health Services, P.O. Box 7004 Street Olavs plass, N-0130 Oslo, Norway.
authors.forename: Claire
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Glenton
authors.affiliation: Norwegian Branch of the Nordic Cochrane Centre, Postboks 7004 Street Olavs plass, 0130 Oslo, Norway; Norwegian Knowledge Centre for the Health Services, P.O. Box 7004 Street Olavs plass, N-0130 Oslo, Norway.
authors.forename: Sarah
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Rosenbaum
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Ottawa, 451 Smyth Road, Ottawa, Ontario K1H 8M5, Canada.
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Tugwell
authors.affiliation: Bruyère Research Institute, University of Ottawa, 304b-85 Primrose Avenue, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada.
authors.forename: Vivian
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Welch
authors.affiliation: Evidence Synthesis for Global Health, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Pembroke Place, Liverpool L3 5QA, UK.
authors.forename: Paul
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Garner
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Epidemiology & Biostatistics, McMaster University, 1280 Main Street West, Hamilton, Ontario L8S 4K1, Canada; Cochrane GRADEing (Applicability and Recommendations) Methods Group, 1280 Main Street West, Hamilton, Ontario L8S 4K1, Canada; McMaster GRADE Center, 1280 Main Street West, Hamilton, Ontario L8S 4K1, Canada; Department of Medicine, McMaster University, 1280 Main Street West, Hamilton, Ontario L8S 4K1, Canada.
authors.forename: Gordon
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Guyatt
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Epidemiology & Biostatistics, McMaster University, 1280 Main Street West, Hamilton, Ontario L8S 4K1, Canada; Cochrane GRADEing (Applicability and Recommendations) Methods Group, 1280 Main Street West, Hamilton, Ontario L8S 4K1, Canada; McMaster GRADE Center, 1280 Main Street West, Hamilton, Ontario L8S 4K1, Canada; Department of Medicine, McMaster University, 1280 Main Street West, Hamilton, Ontario L8S 4K1, Canada. Electronic address: schuneh@mcmaster.ca.
authors.forename: Holger J
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Schünemann
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D032882:Comprehension; D003258:Consumer Behavior / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D019317:Evidence-Based Medicine; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D033181:Information Dissemination / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D058028:Research Report / Q000592:standards*; D012196:Review Literature as Topic; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Evidence summaries; Evidence tables; Formatting; GRADE; GRADEpro; Guidelines; Summary of findings table; Systematic reviews; Understanding