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Multicentre randomised controlled trials in obstetrics and gynaecology: an analysis of trends over three decades
Author(s) -
Raza A,
Chien PFW,
Khan KS
Publication year - 2009
Publication title -
bjog: an international journal of obstetrics and gynaecology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.157
H-Index - 164
eISSN - 1471-0528
pISSN - 1470-0328
DOI - 10.1111/j.1471-0528.2009.02167.x
Subject(s) - obstetrics and gynaecology , medicine , randomized controlled trial , obstetrics , medical journal , gynecology , family medicine , pregnancy , surgery , genetics , biology
To assess the trend in multicentre randomised controlled trials (RCTs), a database of 670 RCTs was assembled from four generic obstetric and gynaecological journals ( Acta Obstetricia et Gynecologica Scandinavica , British Journal of Obstetrics & Gynaecology , Obstetrics & Gynecology and American Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology ) for 1975, 1980, 1985, 1990, 1995, 2000 and 2005. During this period, there was an inflationary trend with the proportion of published multicentre RCTs (from 12.9% in 1975 of all RCTs to 23.8% in 2005; P = 0.008). Multicentre RCTs had multiauthored publications (OR = 2.90; 95% CI 1.99–4.22) and more often received external funding (OR = 2.41; 95% CI 1.70–3.48) than single centre RCTs. The inflationary trend in multicentre RCTs requiring funding and collaboration represents the increasing complexity of medical research necessary to underpin evidence‐based practice.