Open AccessRecommendations from Cochrane reviews for improving future trials on anesthesia and pain: a meta-research study
Author(s) -
Renata Runjić,
Mia Plenkovic,
Stefania Pirosca,
Michael Clarke,
Shaun Treweek,
Livia Puljak
Publication year - 2022
Publication title -
journal of comparative effectiveness research
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.567
H-Index - 23
eISSN - 2042-6313
pISSN - 2042-6305
DOI - 10.2217/cer-2022-0042
Subject(s) - medicine , systematic review , cochrane collaboration , meta analysis , medline , randomized controlled trial , cochrane library , physical therapy , alternative medicine , surgery , political science , law , pathology
Background: Cochrane systematic reviews (CSRs) have a section 'Implications for research' where authors make suggestions for improving future research. The authors of the present study assessed the prevalence and time dynamics of different recommendations in the CSRs about anesthesia and pain. Methods: The authors included all CSRs published by the Cochrane Anaesthesia Group and Cochrane Pain and Palliative Care Group before 17 July 2020. The authors analyzed recommendations for improving future research listed in the 'Implications for research' section of these CSRs and categorized recommendations for improvements. Results: They analyzed 370 reviews. Four categories of recommendations were present in more than 40% of the reviews. Most reviews recommended a larger sample size and better outcome choice, study design and choice of future intervention. These recommendations gradually increased in frequency in the Cochrane Pain and Palliative Care Group and mainly decreased in the Cochrane Anaesthesia Group. Conclusion: Recommendations from CSRs offer useful advice for trialists designing new trials.