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He Y, Zhang R, Shan W, Yin Y, Zhang X, Zhang Y, Wang X. Evaluating the completeness of the reporting of abstracts since the publication of the CONSORT extension for abstracts: an evaluation of randomized controlled trial in ten nursing journals. Trials 2023; 24:423. [PMID: 37349754 DOI: 10.1186/s13063-023-07419-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/06/2022] [Accepted: 05/27/2023] [Indexed: 06/24/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND As a practice-oriented discipline, strict adherence to reporting guidelines is particularly important in randomized controlled trial (RCT) abstracts of the nursing area. However, whether abstract reports after 2010 have complied with the Consolidated Standards of Reporting Trials for Abstracts (CONSORT-A) guideline is unclear. This study aimed to evaluate whether the publication of CONSORT-A has improved abstract reporting in nursing and explores the factors associated with better adherence to the guidelines. METHODS We searched the Web of Science for 200 RCTs randomly selected from ten nursing journals. We used a data extraction form based on CONSORT-A, including 16 items, to analyze the reporting adherence to the guidelines, and the reporting rate of each item and the total score for each abstract were used to indicate adherence and overall quality score (OQS, range 0-16). A comparison of the total mean score between the two periods was made, and affecting factors were analyzed. RESULTS In the studies we included, 48 abstracts were published pre-CONSORT-A whereas 152 post-CONSORT-A. The overall mean score for reporting adherence to 16 items was 7.41 ± 2.78 and 9.16 ± 2.76 for pre- and post-CONSORT-A, respectively (total score: 16). The most poorly reported items are "harms (0%)," "outcomes in method (8.5%)," "randomization (25%)," and "blinding (6.5%)." Items including the year of publication, impact factor, multiple center trial, word count, and structured abstract are significantly associated with higher adherence. CONCLUSIONS The adherence to abstract reporting in nursing literature has improved since the CONSORT-A era, but the overall completeness of RCT abstracts remained low. A joint effort by authors, editors, and journals is necessary to improve reporting quality of RCT abstracts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yan He
- Health Human Resources Service Center, Health Commission of Gansu Province, Lanzhou, Gansu, 730000, China
| | - Rong Zhang
- School of Nursing, Gansu University of Chinese Medicine, Lanzhou, 730000, Gansu, China
| | - Wenjing Shan
- Oncology Department, Nursing, Xi'an International Medical Center, Xi'an, 710000, Shaanxi, China
| | - Yuhuan Yin
- School of Nursing, Gansu University of Chinese Medicine, Lanzhou, 730000, Gansu, China
| | - Xiaoli Zhang
- School of Nursing, Gansu University of Chinese Medicine, Lanzhou, 730000, Gansu, China
| | - Yiyin Zhang
- School of Nursing, Gansu University of Chinese Medicine, Lanzhou, 730000, Gansu, China
| | - Xiaoping Wang
- Urological Examination Room, Gansu Provincial Hospital, Lanzhou, 730000, Gansu, China.
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Hu ZJ, Fusch G, Hu C, Wang JY, El Helou Z, Hassan MT, Mbuagbaw L, El Helou S, Thabane L. Completeness of reporting of quality improvement studies in neonatology is inadequate: a systematic literature survey. BMJ Open Qual 2021; 10:bmjoq-2020-001273. [PMID: 34127453 PMCID: PMC8204179 DOI: 10.1136/bmjoq-2020-001273] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/09/2020] [Accepted: 06/02/2021] [Indexed: 01/10/2023] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Quality improvement (QI) is a growing field of inquiry in healthcare, but the reporting quality of QI studies in neonatology remains unclear. We conducted a systematic survey of the literature to assess the reporting quality of QI studies and factors associated with reporting quality. METHODS We searched Medline for publications of QI studies from 2016 to 16 April 2020. Pairs of reviewers independently screened citations and assessed reporting quality using a 31-item modified Standards for Quality Improvement Reporting Excellence, 2nd edition (SQUIRE 2.0) checklist. We reported the number (percentage) of studies that reported each item and their corresponding 95% CIs. We used Poisson regression to explore factors associated with reporting quality, namely, journal endorsement of SQUIRE 2.0, declaration of funding sources, year of publication and number of authors. The results were reported as incidence rate ratio (IRR) and 95% CI. RESULTS Of 1921 citations, 336 were eligible; among them, we randomly selected 100 articles to assess reporting quality. The mean (standard deviation) number of SQUIRE 2.0 items adhered to was 22.0 (4.5). Percentage of articles reporting each item varied from 26% to 100%. Journal endorsement of SQUIRE 2.0 (IRR=1.11, 95% CI 1.02 to 1.21, p=0.015), declaration of funding sources and increasing number of authors were significantly associated with better reporting. CONCLUSIONS Reporting quality of QI studies in neonatology is inadequate. Endorsing the SQUIRE 2.0 guideline is a step that journals can implement to enhance the completeness of reporting.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zheng Jing Hu
- Department of Health Research Methods Evidence and Impact, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
| | - Gerhard Fusch
- Division of Neonatology, Department of Pediatrics, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
| | - Catherine Hu
- Bachelor of Arts and Science, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
| | - Jie Yi Wang
- Bachelor of Medical Sciences, Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry, University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario, Canada
| | - Zoe El Helou
- Bachelor of Health Sciences, Faculty of Health Sciences, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
| | - Muhammad Taaha Hassan
- Bachelor of Health Sciences, Faculty of Health Sciences, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
| | - Lawrence Mbuagbaw
- Department of Health Research Methods Evidence and Impact, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
| | - Salhab El Helou
- Division of Neonatology, Department of Pediatrics, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
| | - Lehana Thabane
- Department of Health Research Methods Evidence and Impact, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
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Mbuagbaw L, Kosa SD, Lawson DO, Stalteri R, Olaiya OR, Alotaibi A, Thabane L. The reporting of progression criteria in protocols of pilot trials designed to assess the feasibility of main trials is insufficient: a meta-epidemiological study. Pilot Feasibility Stud 2019; 5:120. [PMID: 31700654 PMCID: PMC6827233 DOI: 10.1186/s40814-019-0500-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/19/2018] [Accepted: 09/16/2019] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Introduction Pilot and feasibility trials are conducted to determine feasibility or to collect information that would inform the design of a larger definitive trial. Clear progression criteria are required to determine if a definitive or main trial is feasible and how it should be designed. We sought to determine how often progression criteria are reported and the associated factors. Methods We conducted a methodological review of protocols for pilot randomised trials published in three journals that publish research protocols (BMJ Open, Trials, Pilot and Feasibility Studies), using a PubMed search (2013–2017). We extracted bibliometric information including the country in which the study was conducted, source of funding, type of intervention, use of a primary feasibility outcome, sample size reporting, and justification. We used generalised linear models to determine the factors associated with reporting progression criteria. Results Our search retrieved 276 articles, of which 49 were not eligible. We included 227 articles. Overall, 45/227 (19.8%; 95% confidence interval [CI] 14.8–25.6) reported progression criteria. Protocols published in more recent years were significantly associated with higher odds of reporting progression criteria (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] 1.40; 95% CI 1.03–1.92; p = 0.034). Pilot trials from Europe (aOR 0.19; 95% CI 0.08–0.48; p < 0.001) and the rest of the world (aOR 0.05; 95% CI 0.01–0.18; p < 0.003) compared to North America were significantly associated with lower odds of reporting progression criteria. Journal, source of funding, sample size, intervention type, and having a primary outcome related to feasibility were not significantly associated with reporting progression criteria. Conclusion Progression criteria are not often explicitly stated in protocols of pilot trials leaving room for varied interpretation of findings. The development of formal guidance for progression criteria in protocols of pilot trials is warranted.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lawrence Mbuagbaw
- 1Department of Health Research Methods, Evidence and Impact, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON Canada.,2Biostatistics Unit, Father Sean O'Sullivan Research Centre, St Joseph's Healthcare-Hamilton, 50 Charlton Avenue East, 3rd Floor Martha Wing, Room H321, Hamilton, ON L8N 4A6 Canada.,Centre for the Development of Best Practices in Health, Yaoundé, Cameroon
| | - Sarah Daisy Kosa
- 1Department of Health Research Methods, Evidence and Impact, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON Canada.,4Toronto General Hospital, University Health Network, Toronto, ON Canada
| | - Daeria O Lawson
- 1Department of Health Research Methods, Evidence and Impact, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON Canada
| | - Rosa Stalteri
- 1Department of Health Research Methods, Evidence and Impact, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON Canada
| | - Oluwatobi R Olaiya
- 5Michael G. DeGroote School of Medicine, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON Canada
| | - Ahlam Alotaibi
- 6Department of Pediatrics, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON Canada
| | - Lehana Thabane
- 1Department of Health Research Methods, Evidence and Impact, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON Canada.,2Biostatistics Unit, Father Sean O'Sullivan Research Centre, St Joseph's Healthcare-Hamilton, 50 Charlton Avenue East, 3rd Floor Martha Wing, Room H321, Hamilton, ON L8N 4A6 Canada.,7Departments of Paediatrics and Anaesthesia, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON Canada.,8Centre for Evaluation of Medicine, St Joseph's Healthcare-Hamilton, Hamilton, ON Canada.,9Population Health Research Institute, Hamilton Health Sciences, Hamilton, ON Canada
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