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Registration status and methodological reporting of randomized controlled trials in obesity research: A review
Author(s) -
Byrne Jillian L.S.,
Yee Tamara,
O'Connor Kathleen,
Dyson Michele P.,
Ball Geoff D.C.
Publication year - 2017
Publication title -
obesity
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.438
H-Index - 199
eISSN - 1930-739X
pISSN - 1930-7381
DOI - 10.1002/oby.21784
Subject(s) - medicine , randomized controlled trial , trial registration , medline , family medicine , clinical trial , consolidated standards of reporting trials , political science , law
Objective To assess registration and reporting details of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) published from 2011 to 2016 across four obesity journals. Methods All issues from four leading obesity journals were searched systematically for RCTs from January 2011 to June 2016. Data on registration status were extracted from manuscripts, online trial registries, and a trial database; corresponding authors were contacted for registration details, when necessary. The methodological reporting of RCTs was assessed on specific criteria from the Consolidated Standards of Reporting Trials. Results A total of 223 RCTs were reviewed. Three‐quarters ( n = 170) were registered publicly; 94 (55.3%) reported registration details in the manuscript, and 82 (48.2%) were registered prospectively. Newer RCTs were more likely to be registered prospectively than older RCTs (2014‐2016: 57.3% vs. 2011‐2013: 39.2%; c 2 = 5.5, P = 0.02). Assessment on the Consolidated Standards of Reporting Trials demonstrated that less than half of all studies reported data collection dates ( n = 108; 48.4%) or included “randomized trial” in the title ( n = 89; 39.9%). Conclusions The methodological reporting of RCTs published in obesity journals is suboptimal, despite current guidelines and policies. To complement existing standards, editorial boards should incorporate mandatory fields within the online manuscript submission process to enhance the quality, transparency, and comprehensiveness of reporting RCTs in obesity journals.