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Completion, publication, and outcome reporting of registered randomized trials in abdominal surgery: registry-based cohort study
By Narbekovas K, Kuemmerli C, Huegli S and 6 others.
Abstract
Background
Abdominal surgery poses unique challenges to the conduct of randomized clinical trials (RCTs). However, trial discontinuation, non-publication, and selective reporting may result in an incomplete picture of the available evidence base. This study assessed the trajectories of RCTs in abdominal surgery from trial registration to the publication and reporting of results.
Methods
RCTs in adult abdominal surgery were identified through a systematic search of ClinicalTrials.gov, the EU Clinical Trials Register, and the International Clinical Trials Registry Platform from database inception until 31 January 2018. Corresponding trial publications were identified by searching PubMed, Google Scholar, and Google. Selective reporting was evaluated by examining consistency of primary endpoints and reported P values in published trials.