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Moore A, Karadag P, Fisher E, Crombez G, Straube S, Eccleston C. Narrative bias ("spin") is common in randomised trials and systematic reviews of cannabinoids for pain. Pain 2024; 165:1380-1390. [PMID: 38227560 DOI: 10.1097/j.pain.0000000000003140] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/07/2023] [Accepted: 08/21/2023] [Indexed: 01/18/2024]
Abstract
ABSTRACT We define narrative bias as a tendency to interpret information as part of a larger story or pattern, regardless of whether the facts support the full narrative. Narrative bias in title and abstract means that results reported in the title and abstract of an article are done so in a way that could distort their interpretation and mislead readers who had not read the whole article. Narrative bias is often referred to as "spin." It is prevalent in abstracts of scientific papers and is impactful because abstracts are often the only part of an article read. We found no extant narrative bias instrument suitable for exploring both efficacy and safety statements in randomized trials and systematic reviews of pain. We constructed a 6-point instrument with clear instructions and tested it on randomised trials and systematic reviews of cannabinoids and cannabis-based medicines for pain, with updated searches to April 2021. The instrument detected moderate or severe narrative bias in the title and abstract of 24% (8 of 34) of randomised controlled trials and 17% (11 of 64) of systematic reviews; narrative bias for efficacy and safety occurred equally. There was no significant or meaningful association between narrative bias and study characteristics in correlation or cluster analyses. Bias was always in favour of the experimental cannabinoid or cannabis-based medicine. Put simply, reading title and abstract only could give an incorrect impression of efficacy or safety in about 1 in 5 papers reporting on these products.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrew Moore
- Court Road, Newton Ferrers, Plymouth, United Kingdom
| | - Paige Karadag
- Department of Psychology at the University of Bath, Claverton Down, Bath, United Kingdom
- School of Health, Science and Wellbeing, Staffordshire University, College Road, University Quarter, Stoke on Trent, Staffordshire, United Kingdom
| | - Emma Fisher
- Centre for Pain Research, University of Bath, Claverton Down, Bath, United Kingdom
| | - Geert Crombez
- Department of Experimental-Clinical and Health Psychology, Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Sebastian Straube
- Division of Preventive Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada
| | - Christopher Eccleston
- Centre for Pain Research, University of Bath, Claverton Down, Bath, United Kingdom
- Department of Experimental-Clinical and Health Psychology, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
- Department of Psychology, The University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
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2
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Paul M. SPINning in infectious diseases. Clin Microbiol Infect 2023:S1198-743X(23)00197-0. [PMID: 37116862 DOI: 10.1016/j.cmi.2023.04.023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/24/2023] [Revised: 04/22/2023] [Accepted: 04/22/2023] [Indexed: 04/30/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Mical Paul
- Rambam Health care Campus and The Ruth and Bruce Rappaport Faculty of Medicine, Technion - Israel Institute of Technology. Haifa, Israel.
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3
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Demarquette A, Perrault T, Alapetite T, Bouizegarene M, Bronnert R, Fouré G, Masson C, Nicolas V, Lasocki S, Léger M. Spin and fragility in randomised controlled trials in the anaesthesia literature: a systematic review. Br J Anaesth 2023; 130:528-535. [PMID: 36759291 DOI: 10.1016/j.bja.2023.01.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2022] [Revised: 12/22/2022] [Accepted: 01/02/2023] [Indexed: 02/10/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Given variable frequency of misleading reports and the potential for spin (a way of describing results that can mislead readers) to influence interpretation of randomised controlled trials (RCTs), we have undertaken a spin reassessment. We evaluated the quality of recent literature in anaesthesia journals by assessing the presence of spin and calculating the fragility index. METHODS This systematic review of randomised trials was performed according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) statement. We searched via PubMed® from January 1, 2019 to January 1, 2021 to identify all RCTs published in one of the 20 anaesthesia journals with the highest journal impact factors during this time. Four pairs of reviewers assessed articles independently for eligibility using a piloted electronic data extraction form. They assessed the presence of spin in statistically negative RCTs and calculated the fragility index for statistically positive RCTs. RESULTS Of the 802 screened records, 162 (20%) articles were analysed for spin, and 65 (8%) trials were analysed for fragility index. For the statistically negative studies, 66 articles (40%) presented spin; 89% of these occurrences of spin were described in the conclusion of the abstract. The primary type of spin was the highlight of secondary outcomes (67%). For statistically positive trials, the median fragility index was 4 [1-8]. CONCLUSIONS This systematic review showed that 40% of statistically negative trials in high-impact anaesthesia journals could mislead readers. For statistically positive RCTs, the results relied on few subjects, with a median fragility index of 4 [1-8]. Efforts must be continued to reduce spin and fragility in the medical literature.
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Affiliation(s)
- Achille Demarquette
- Anaesthesiology and Critical Care Department, Angers University Hospital, Angers, France.
| | - Tristan Perrault
- Anaesthesiology and Critical Care Department, Angers University Hospital, Angers, France
| | - Thomas Alapetite
- Anaesthesiology and Critical Care Department, Angers University Hospital, Angers, France
| | - Madjid Bouizegarene
- Anaesthesiology and Critical Care Department, Angers University Hospital, Angers, France
| | - Romain Bronnert
- Anaesthesiology and Critical Care Department, Angers University Hospital, Angers, France
| | - Gaël Fouré
- Anaesthesiology and Critical Care Department, Angers University Hospital, Angers, France
| | - Charline Masson
- Anaesthesiology and Critical Care Department, Angers University Hospital, Angers, France
| | - Vivian Nicolas
- Anaesthesiology and Critical Care Department, Angers University Hospital, Angers, France
| | - Sigismond Lasocki
- Anaesthesiology and Critical Care Department, Angers University Hospital, Angers, France
| | - Maxime Léger
- Anaesthesiology and Critical Care Department, Angers University Hospital, Angers, France; INSERM UMR 1246, SPHERE, Nantes University, Tours University, Nantes, France
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Wise A, Mannem D, Arthur W, Ottwell R, Greiner B, Srouji D, Wildes D, Hartwell M, Wright DN, Khojasteh J, Vassar M. Spin within systematic review abstracts on antiplatelet therapies after acute coronary syndrome: a cross-sectional study. BMJ Open 2022; 12:e049421. [PMID: 35918107 PMCID: PMC9351322 DOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2021-049421] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Spin is a reporting practice in which study results are misrepresented by overestimating efficacy or underestimating harm. Prevalence of spin varies between clinical specialties, and estimates are based almost entirely on clinical trials. Little is known about spin in systematic reviews. DESIGN We performed a cross-sectional analysis searching MEDLINE and Embase for systematic reviews and meta-analyses pertaining to antiplatelet therapies following acute coronary syndrome on 2 June 2020. Data were extracted evaluating the presence of spin and study characteristics, including methodological quality as rated by A MeaSurement Tool to Assess systematic Reviews (AMSTAR-2). All data extraction was conducted in a masked, duplicate manner from 2 June 2020 to 26 June 2020. PARTICIPANTS AND SETTING Not applicable. PRIMARY AND SECONDARY OUTCOME MEASURES We assessed abstracts of systematic reviews on antiplatelet therapy following acute coronary syndrome and evaluated the prevalence of the nine most severe types of spin. We additionally explored associations between spin and certain study characteristics, including quality. RESULTS Our searches returned 15 263 articles, and 185 systematic reviews met inclusion criteria. Of these 185 reviews, 31.9% (59/185) contained some form of spin in the abstract. Seven forms of spin (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7 and 9) among the nine most severe were identified. No instances of types 6 or 8 were found. There were no statistically significant relationships between spin and the evaluated study characteristics or AMSTAR-2 appraisals. CONCLUSIONS Spin was present in abstracts for systematic reviews and meta-analyses; subsequent studies are needed to identify correlations between spin and specific study characteristics. There were no statistically significant associations between spin and study characteristics or AMSTAR-2 ratings; however, implementing changes will ensure that spin is reduced in the field of cardiology as well as other fields of medicine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Audrey Wise
- Office of Medical Student Research, Oklahoma State University Center for Health Sciences, Tulsa, Oklahoma, USA
| | - Deepika Mannem
- Arkansas College of Osteopathic Medicine, Fort Smith, Arkansas, USA
| | - Wade Arthur
- Office of Medical Student Research, Oklahoma State University Center for Health Sciences, Tulsa, Oklahoma, USA
| | - Ryan Ottwell
- Office of Medical Student Research, Oklahoma State University Center for Health Sciences, Tulsa, Oklahoma, USA
| | - Benjamin Greiner
- The University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston Department of Internal Medicine, Galveston, Texas, USA
| | - Derek Srouji
- Cardiology, Oklahoma State University Medical Center, Tulsa, Oklahoma, USA
| | - Daniel Wildes
- Cardiology, Oklahoma State University Medical Center, Tulsa, Oklahoma, USA
| | - Micah Hartwell
- Office of Medical Student Research, Oklahoma State University Center for Health Sciences, Tulsa, Oklahoma, USA
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Oklahoma State University Center for Health Sciences, Tulsa, Oklahoma, USA
| | - Drew N Wright
- Samuel J. Wood Library & C.V. Starr Biomedical Information Center, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, New York, USA
| | - Jam Khojasteh
- School of Educational Foundations, Leadership and Aviation, Oklahoma State University - Tulsa, Tulsa, Oklahoma, USA
| | - Matthew Vassar
- Office of Medical Student Research, Oklahoma State University Center for Health Sciences, Tulsa, Oklahoma, USA
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Oklahoma State University Center for Health Sciences, Tulsa, Oklahoma, USA
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Jankowski S, Boutron I, Clarke M. Influence of the statistical significance of results and spin on readers' interpretation of the results in an abstract for a hypothetical clinical trial: a randomised trial. BMJ Open 2022; 12:e056503. [PMID: 35396295 PMCID: PMC8996040 DOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2021-056503] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/03/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVES To assess the impact on readers' interpretation of the results reported in an abstract for a hypothetical clinical trial with (1) a statistically significant result (SSR), (2) spin, (3) both an SSR and spin compared with (4) no spin and no SSR. PARTICIPANTS Health students and professionals from universities and health institutions in France and the UK. INTERVENTIONS Participants completed an online questionnaire using Likert scales and free text, after reading one of the four versions of an abstract about a hypothetical randomised trial evaluating 'Naranex' and 'Bulofil' (two hypothetical drugs) for chronic low back pain. The abstracts differed in (1) reported result of 'mean difference of 1.31 points (95% CI 0.08 to 2.54, p= 0.04)' or 'mean difference of 1.31 points (95% CI -0.08 to 2.70, p= 0.06)' and (2) presence or absence of spin. The effect size for the trial's primary outcome (pain disability score) was the same in each abstract, slightly in favour of Naranex. PRIMARY OUTCOME The reader's interpretation of the trial's results, based on their answer (1, disagree; 4, neutral; 7, agree) to the following statement: 'About the main findings of the study, what is your opinion about the following statement: 'Naranex is better than Bulofil'?' RESULTS Two hundred and ninety-seven of the 404 people randomised to receive one of the four abstracts completed the study. Respondents were more likely to favour Narenex when the abstract reported an SSR without spin, a statistically significant result with spin, a non-statistically significant result with spin, compared with when it reported a non-SSR without spin. CONCLUSION Statistical significance appears to have influenced readers' perception whatever the level of spin, while spin influenced readers' perception when the results were not statistically significant but did not appear to have an impact when results were statistically significant.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sofyan Jankowski
- Université Paris Cité, INSERM, INRAE, CNAM, Centre for Research in Epidemiology and Statistics (CRESS), F-75004, Paris, France
- Centre for Public Health, Queen's University Belfast, Belfast, UK
| | - Isabelle Boutron
- Université Paris Cité, INSERM, INRAE, CNAM, Centre for Research in Epidemiology and Statistics (CRESS), F-75004, Paris, France
| | - Mike Clarke
- Centre for Public Health, Queen's University Belfast, Belfast, UK
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Otte WM, Vinkers CH, Habets PC, van IJzendoorn DGP, Tijdink JK. Analysis of 567,758 randomized controlled trials published over 30 years reveals trends in phrases used to discuss results that do not reach statistical significance. PLoS Biol 2022; 20:e3001562. [PMID: 35180228 PMCID: PMC8893613 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pbio.3001562] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/23/2021] [Revised: 03/03/2022] [Accepted: 01/31/2022] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
The power of language to modify the reader's perception of interpreting biomedical results cannot be underestimated. Misreporting and misinterpretation are pressing problems in randomized controlled trials (RCT) output. This may be partially related to the statistical significance paradigm used in clinical trials centered around a P value below 0.05 cutoff. Strict use of this P value may lead to strategies of clinical researchers to describe their clinical results with P values approaching but not reaching the threshold to be "almost significant." The question is how phrases expressing nonsignificant results have been reported in RCTs over the past 30 years. To this end, we conducted a quantitative analysis of English full texts containing 567,758 RCTs recorded in PubMed between 1990 and 2020 (81.5% of all published RCTs in PubMed). We determined the exact presence of 505 predefined phrases denoting results that approach but do not cross the line of formal statistical significance (P < 0.05). We modeled temporal trends in phrase data with Bayesian linear regression. Evidence for temporal change was obtained through Bayes factor (BF) analysis. In a randomly sampled subset, the associated P values were manually extracted. We identified 61,741 phrases in 49,134 RCTs indicating almost significant results (8.65%; 95% confidence interval (CI): 8.58% to 8.73%). The overall prevalence of these phrases remained stable over time, with the most prevalent phrases being "marginally significant" (in 7,735 RCTs), "all but significant" (7,015), "a nonsignificant trend" (3,442), "failed to reach statistical significance" (2,578), and "a strong trend" (1,700). The strongest evidence for an increased temporal prevalence was found for "a numerical trend," "a positive trend," "an increasing trend," and "nominally significant." In contrast, the phrases "all but significant," "approaches statistical significance," "did not quite reach statistical significance," "difference was apparent," "failed to reach statistical significance," and "not quite significant" decreased over time. In a random sampled subset of 29,000 phrases, the manually identified and corresponding 11,926 P values, 68,1% ranged between 0.05 and 0.15 (CI: 67. to 69.0; median 0.06). Our results show that RCT reports regularly contain specific phrases describing marginally nonsignificant results to report P values close to but above the dominant 0.05 cutoff. The fact that the prevalence of the phrases remained stable over time indicates that this practice of broadly interpreting P values close to a predefined threshold remains prevalent. To enhance responsible and transparent interpretation of RCT results, researchers, clinicians, reviewers, and editors may reduce the focus on formal statistical significance thresholds and stimulate reporting of P values with corresponding effect sizes and CIs and focus on the clinical relevance of the statistical difference found in RCTs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Willem M. Otte
- Biomedical MR Imaging and Spectroscopy, Center for Image Sciences, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, the Netherlands
- Department of Child Neurology, UMC Utrecht Brain Center, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, the Netherlands
| | - Christiaan H. Vinkers
- Department of Psychiatry, Department of Anatomy and Neurosciences, Amsterdam UMC, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Philippe C. Habets
- Department of Psychiatry, Department of Anatomy and Neurosciences, Amsterdam UMC, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - David G. P. van IJzendoorn
- Department of Pathology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California, United States of America
| | - Joeri K. Tijdink
- Department of Ethics, Law and Humanities, Amsterdam UMC, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
- Department of Philosophy, Vrije Universiteit, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
- * E-mail:
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7
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Shirvani S, Rives-Lange C, Rassy N, Berger A, Carette C, Poghosyan T, Czernichow S. Spin in the Scientific Literature on Bariatric Endoscopy: a Systematic Review of Randomized Controlled Trials. Obes Surg 2021; 32:503-511. [PMID: 34783961 DOI: 10.1007/s11695-021-05790-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/24/2021] [Revised: 10/28/2021] [Accepted: 11/09/2021] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Bariatric endoscopy (BE) is an emerging treatment option for people with obesity. Spin (i.e., the practice of frequent misrepresentation or overinterpretation of study findings) may lead to imbalanced and unjustified optimism in the interpretation of the results. The aim of this systematic review was to determine the frequency and type of spin in randomized controlled trials (RCTs) of endoscopic primary weight loss techniques with statistically significant and nonsignificant primary outcomes. In conclusion, spin is observed in the abstract and main text of BE reports and can lead to misinterpretation or overinterpretation of the results. Since BE challenges the available non-endoscopic treatments for obesity, further research is needed to better qualify these techniques, as being effective and safe, as well as predefined hypotheses and analyses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sayeh Shirvani
- UMR1153, Epidemiology and Biostatistics Sorbonne Paris Cité Center (CRESS), METHODS team, INSERM, Paris, France
| | - Claire Rives-Lange
- UMR1153, Epidemiology and Biostatistics Sorbonne Paris Cité Center (CRESS), METHODS team, INSERM, Paris, France.,Assistance Publique - Hôpitaux de Paris (AP-HP), Hôpital Européen Georges Pompidou, Service de Nutrition, Centre Spécialisé Obésité, Université de Paris, 20 rue Leblanc, 75015, Paris, France
| | - Nathalie Rassy
- Département de Médecine Oncologique, Gustave Roussy, Villejuif, France
| | - Arthur Berger
- Pôle hépato-gastro-entérologie, diabétologie, nutrition et endocrinologie, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire (CHU) de Bordeaux, Bordeaux, France
| | - Claire Carette
- Assistance Publique - Hôpitaux de Paris (AP-HP), Hôpital Européen Georges Pompidou, Service de Nutrition, Centre Spécialisé Obésité, Université de Paris, 20 rue Leblanc, 75015, Paris, France.,INSERM, U1418, Centre d'Investigation Clinique (CIC), Université de Pairs, Paris, France
| | - Tigran Poghosyan
- Assistance Publique - Hôpitaux de Paris (AP-HP), Service de chirurgie digestive, Hôpital Européen Georges Pompidou, Université de Paris, Inserm UMRS 1149, Paris, France
| | - Sébastien Czernichow
- UMR1153, Epidemiology and Biostatistics Sorbonne Paris Cité Center (CRESS), METHODS team, INSERM, Paris, France. .,Assistance Publique - Hôpitaux de Paris (AP-HP), Hôpital Européen Georges Pompidou, Service de Nutrition, Centre Spécialisé Obésité, Université de Paris, 20 rue Leblanc, 75015, Paris, France.
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8
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Wang D, Chen L, Wang L, Hua F, Li J, Li Y, Zhang Y, Fan H, Li W, Clarke M. Abstracts for reports of randomised trials of COVID-19 interventions had low quality and high spin. J Clin Epidemiol 2021; 139:107-120. [PMID: 34224834 PMCID: PMC8253697 DOI: 10.1016/j.jclinepi.2021.06.027] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2020] [Revised: 04/22/2021] [Accepted: 06/29/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES To assess the reporting quality of abstracts for published randomized controlled trials (RCTs) of interventions for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), including the use of spin strategies and the level of spin for RCTs with statistically non-significant primary outcomes, and to explore potential predictors for reporting quality and the severity of spin. STUDY DESIGN AND SETTING PubMed was searched to find RCTs that tested interventions for COVID-19, and the reporting quality and spin in the abstracts were assessed. Linear regression analyses were used to identify potential predictors. RESULTS Forty RCT abstracts were included in our assessment of reporting quality, and a higher word count in the abstract was significantly correlated with higher reporting scores (95% CI 0.044 to 0.658, P=0.026). Multiple spin strategies were identified. Our multivariate analyses showed that geographical origin was associated with severity of spin, with research from non-Asian regions containing fewer spin strategies (95% CI -0.760 to -0.099, P=0.013). CONCLUSIONS The reporting quality of abstracts of RCTs of interventions for COVID-19 is far from satisfactory. A relatively high proportion of the abstracts contained spin, and the findings reported in the results and conclusion sections of these abstracts need to be interpreted with caution.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dongguang Wang
- Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, West China Hospital/West China School of Medicine, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Lingmin Chen
- Department of Anesthesiology and National Clinical Research Center for Geriatrics, West China Hospital, Sichuan University & The Research Units of West China (2018RU012, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences), Chengdu, China
| | - Lian Wang
- Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, West China Hospital/West China School of Medicine, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Fang Hua
- Center for Evidenced-Based Stomatology, School & Hospital of Stomatology, Wuhan University, Wuhan, China; Cochrane Oral Health, Division of Dentistry, School of Medical Sciences, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, University of Manchester, Manchester Academic Health Science Center, Manchester, UK
| | - Juan Li
- School of Health Preservation and Rehabilitation, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, China
| | - Yuxi Li
- School of Health Preservation and Rehabilitation, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, China
| | - Yonggang Zhang
- Department of Periodical Press, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Hong Fan
- Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, West China Hospital/West China School of Medicine, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China.
| | - Weimin Li
- Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, West China Hospital/West China School of Medicine, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China.
| | - Mike Clarke
- Northern Ireland Clinical Trials Unit and Methodology Hub, Centre for Public Health, Queen's University Belfast, Belfast, UK.
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Faggion CM, Listl S, Smits KPJ. Meta-research publications in dentistry: a review. Eur J Oral Sci 2021; 129:e12748. [PMID: 33533130 DOI: 10.1111/eos.12748] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/01/2020] [Revised: 10/20/2020] [Accepted: 10/28/2020] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
The present scoping review has the objective of providing an overview of meta-research in dentistry. A search of the PubMed database was performed for the period 11 October 2014 to 10 October 2019. Study selection and data extraction were performed independently by one author; prior to this, a random sample of 10% of the retrieved titles and abstracts were independently screened by two authors, achieving agreement of >80% on eligibility for initial inclusion, corresponding to good agreement. The following information was extracted from the full text of each article: meta-research area of interest; study design; type of studies evaluated in the meta-research; type of methodology used in assessment of the primary research; conflicts of interest reported; sponsorships reported; dental discipline; journal of publication; country of the first author; number of citations; and impact factor. A total of 7800 documents were initially retrieved. After analysis of the title/abstract and the full text of each article, and a snowballing procedure, 155 meta-research studies were identified and included. The 'methods' and 'reporting' meta-research areas were the most prevalent, with 73 (47%) and 61 (40%) studies, respectively. General dentistry, and orthodontics and dentofacial orthopaedics were the dental specialties with the greatest number/proportion of included studies with 45 (29%) and 28 (18%) studies, respectively. These findings may help to prioritize future meta-research in dentistry, consequently avoiding unnessecary investigations, and increasing the value of oral and dental research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Clovis M Faggion
- Department of Periodontology and Operative Dentistry, Faculty of Dentistry, University Hospital Münster, Münster, Germany
| | - Stefan Listl
- Department of Dentistry - Quality and Safety of Oral Healthcare, Radboud University Medical Center, Radboud Institute for Health Sciences, Nijmegen, The Netherlands.,Section for Translational Health Economics, Department of Conservative Dentistry, Heidelberg University, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Kirsten P J Smits
- Department of Dentistry - Quality and Safety of Oral Healthcare, Radboud University Medical Center, Radboud Institute for Health Sciences, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
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10
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Kronbichler A, Effenberger M, Eisenhut M, Lee KH, Shin JI. Seven recommendations to rescue the patients and reduce the mortality from COVID-19 infection: An immunological point of view. Autoimmun Rev 2020; 19:102570. [PMID: 32376397 PMCID: PMC7252097 DOI: 10.1016/j.autrev.2020.102570] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/12/2020] [Accepted: 04/13/2020] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Abstract
Now COVID-19 is causing a severe public health emergency and the mortality is rapidly increasing all over the world. In the current pandemic era, although there have been many efforts to diagnose a number of patients with symptoms or close contacts, there is no definite guideline for the initial therapeutic approach for them and therefore, many patients have been dying due to a hyperinflammatory immunological reaction labeled as “cytokine storm”. Severe patients are hospitalized and the treatment is done, though they have not been established yet. Currently, however, no treatment is provided for those who are isolated at home or shelter until they get severe symptoms, which will increase the harms to the patients. In this review, we discuss some important points dedicated to the management of patients with COVID-19, which should help reducing morbidity and mortality. In this era, we suggest 7 recommendations to rescue the patients and to reduce the morbidity and mortality due to COVID-19 based on the immunological point of view.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andreas Kronbichler
- Department of Internal Medicine IV Nephrology and Hypertension, Medical University Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Maria Effenberger
- Department of Internal Medicine I, Gastroenterology, Hepatology, Endocrinology and Metabolism, Medical University Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Michael Eisenhut
- Luton & Dunstable University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, Luton, United Kingdom
| | - Keum Hwa Lee
- Department of Pediatrics, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Jae Il Shin
- Department of Pediatrics, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
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11
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Affiliation(s)
- Reshma Jagsi
- Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, USA
| | - Julie K Silver
- Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02114, USA
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