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Gryaznov D, von Niederhäusern B, Speich B, Kasenda B, Ojeda-Ruiz E, Blümle A, Schandelmaier S, Mertz D, Odutayo A, Tomonaga Y, Amstutz A, Pauli-Magnus C, Gloy V, Lohner S, Bischoff K, Wollmann K, Rehner L, Meerpohl JJ, Nordmann A, Klatte K, Ghosh N, Taji Heravi A, Wong J, Chow N, Hong P, McCord-De Iaco KA, Sricharoenchai S, Busse JW, Agarwal A, Saccilotto R, Schwenkglenks M, Moffa G, Hemkens L, Hopewell S, Von Elm E, Briel M. Reporting quality of clinical trial protocols: a repeated cross-sectional study about the Adherence to SPIrit Recommendations in Switzerland, CAnada and GErmany (ASPIRE-SCAGE). BMJ Open 2022; 12:e053417. [PMID: 35613804 PMCID: PMC9125701 DOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2021-053417] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Comprehensive protocols are key for the planning and conduct of randomised clinical trials (RCTs). Evidence of low reporting quality of RCT protocols led to the publication of the Standard Protocol Items: Recommendations for Interventional Trials (SPIRIT) checklist in 2013. We aimed to examine the quality of reporting of RCT protocols from three countries before and after the publication of the SPIRIT checklist. DESIGN Repeated cross sectional study. SETTING Swiss, German and Canadian research ethics committees (RECs). PARTICIPANTS RCT protocols approved by RECs in 2012 (n=257) and 2016 (n=292). PRIMARY AND SECONDARY OUTCOME MEASURES The primary outcomes were the proportion of reported SPIRIT items per protocol and the proportion of trial protocols reporting individual SPIRIT items. We compared these outcomes in protocols approved in 2012 and 2016, and built regression models to explore factors associated with adherence to SPIRIT. For each protocol, we also extracted information on general trial characteristics and assessed whether individual SPIRIT items were reported RESULTS: The median proportion of reported SPIRIT items among RCT protocols showed a non-significant increase from 72% (IQR, 63%-79%) in 2012 to 77% (IQR, 68%-82%) in 2016. However, in a preplanned subgroup analysis, we detected a significant improvement in investigator-sponsored protocols: the median proportion increased from 64% (IQR, 55%-72%) in 2012 to 76% (IQR, 64%-83%) in 2016, while for industry-sponsored protocols median adherence was 77% (IQR 72%-80%) for both years. The following trial characteristics were independently associated with lower adherence to SPIRIT: single-centre trial, no support from a clinical trials unit or contract research organisation, and investigator-sponsorship. CONCLUSIONS In 2012, industry-sponsored RCT protocols were reported more comprehensively than investigator-sponsored protocols. After publication of the SPIRIT checklist, investigator-sponsored protocols improved to the level of industry-sponsored protocols, which did not improve.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dmitry Gryaznov
- Basel Institute for Clinical Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Department of Clinical Research, University Hospital Basel and University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Belinda von Niederhäusern
- Department of Clinical Research, Clinical Trial Unit, University Hospital Basel and University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
- Roche Pharma AG, Grenzach-Wyhlen, Germany
| | - Benjamin Speich
- Basel Institute for Clinical Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Department of Clinical Research, University Hospital Basel and University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
- Oxford Clinical Trials Research Unit, Centre for Statistics in Medicine, Nuffield Department of Orthopaedics Rheumatology and Musculoskeletal Sciences, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Benjamin Kasenda
- Basel Institute for Clinical Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Department of Clinical Research, University Hospital Basel and University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
- Department of Medical Oncology, University Hospital Basel and University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Elena Ojeda-Ruiz
- Basel Institute for Clinical Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Department of Clinical Research, University Hospital Basel and University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
- Preventive Medicine Department, Bioaraba Health Research Institute, Osakidetza Basque Health Service, Araba University Hospital, Vitoria-Gasteiz, Alava, Spain
| | - Anette Blümle
- Clinical Trials Unit, Faculty of Medicine and Medical Center, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
- Cochrane Germany, Cochrane Germany Foundation, Freiburg, Germany
- Institute for Evidence in Medicine, Medical Center, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Stefan Schandelmaier
- Basel Institute for Clinical Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Department of Clinical Research, University Hospital Basel and University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
- Department of Health Research Methods, Evidence, and Impact, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
| | - Dominik Mertz
- Department of Health Research Methods, Evidence, and Impact, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
- Department of Medicine, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
| | - Ayodele Odutayo
- Oxford Clinical Trials Research Unit, Centre for Statistics in Medicine, Nuffield Department of Orthopaedics Rheumatology and Musculoskeletal Sciences, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Yuki Tomonaga
- Epidemiology, Biostatistic und Prevention Institute, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Alain Amstutz
- Basel Institute for Clinical Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Department of Clinical Research, University Hospital Basel and University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
- Clinical Research Unit, Schweizerisches Tropen- und Public Health-Institut, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Christiane Pauli-Magnus
- Department of Clinical Research, Clinical Trial Unit, University Hospital Basel and University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Viktoria Gloy
- Basel Institute for Clinical Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Department of Clinical Research, University Hospital Basel and University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Szimonetta Lohner
- Cochrane Hungary, Clinical Centre of the University of Pécs, Medical School, University of Pécs, Pécs, Hungary
| | - Karin Bischoff
- Cochrane Germany, Cochrane Germany Foundation, Freiburg, Germany
- Institute for Evidence in Medicine, Medical Center, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Katharina Wollmann
- Cochrane Germany, Cochrane Germany Foundation, Freiburg, Germany
- Institute for Evidence in Medicine, Medical Center, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Laura Rehner
- Institute for Evidence in Medicine, Medical Center, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
- Institute for Nursing Science and Interprofessional Learning, University Medicine Greifswald, Greifswald, Germany
| | - Joerg J Meerpohl
- Cochrane Germany, Cochrane Germany Foundation, Freiburg, Germany
- Institute for Evidence in Medicine, Medical Center, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Alain Nordmann
- Basel Institute for Clinical Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Department of Clinical Research, University Hospital Basel and University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Katharina Klatte
- Department of Clinical Research, Clinical Trial Unit, University Hospital Basel and University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Nilabh Ghosh
- Department of Neurosurgery, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Ala Taji Heravi
- Basel Institute for Clinical Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Department of Clinical Research, University Hospital Basel and University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Jacqueline Wong
- Department of Health Research Methods, Evidence, and Impact, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
| | - Ngai Chow
- Department of Health Research Methods, Evidence, and Impact, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
- Centre for Disability Prevention and Rehabilitation, Canadian Memorial Chiropractic College, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Patrick Hong
- Department of Health Research Methods, Evidence, and Impact, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
- University of Ottawa Faculty of Medicine, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
| | - Kimberly A McCord-De Iaco
- Basel Institute for Clinical Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Department of Clinical Research, University Hospital Basel and University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Sirintip Sricharoenchai
- Basel Institute for Clinical Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Department of Clinical Research, University Hospital Basel and University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Jason W Busse
- Department of Health Research Methods, Evidence, and Impact, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
- Department of Anesthesia, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
| | - Arnav Agarwal
- Department of Health Research Methods, Evidence, and Impact, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
| | - Ramon Saccilotto
- Basel Institute for Clinical Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Department of Clinical Research, University Hospital Basel and University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Matthias Schwenkglenks
- Epidemiology, Biostatistic und Prevention Institute, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
- Institute of Pharmaceutical Medicine (ECPM), University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Giusi Moffa
- Basel Institute for Clinical Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Department of Clinical Research, University Hospital Basel and University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
- Department of Mathematics and Computer Science, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Lars Hemkens
- Basel Institute for Clinical Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Department of Clinical Research, University Hospital Basel and University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
- Meta-Research Innovation Center Berlin (METRICS-B), Berlin Institute of Health, Berlin, Germany
- Meta-Research Innovation Center Stanford (METRICS), Stanford University, Stanford, California, USA
| | - Sally Hopewell
- Oxford Clinical Trials Research Unit, Centre for Statistics in Medicine, Nuffield Department of Orthopaedics Rheumatology and Musculoskeletal Sciences, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Erik Von Elm
- Cochrane Switzerland, Centre for Primary Care and Public Health (unisanté), University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Matthias Briel
- Basel Institute for Clinical Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Department of Clinical Research, University Hospital Basel and University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
- Department of Health Research Methods, Evidence, and Impact, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
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