REPORTING OF PATIENT-REPORTED OUTCOMES IN RCTS FOCUSED ON TINNITUS: A META STUDY

Background The inclusion of patient-reported outcomes (PROs) in randomized controlled trials (RCTs) supplements treatment efficacy with the patient’s perspectives. aim this study was to evaluate reporting completeness PROs RCTs pertaining tinnitus, using Consolidated Standards Reporting Trials (Consort-PRO) adaptation. Material and methods We performed a search Medline, Embase, Cochrane Central Register Controlled (Central) for published related tinnitus at least one PRO measure from 2006 2020. Two investigators screened inclusion. Using Consort-PRO adaptation an independent, masked fashion, then evaluated all included RCTs. Similarly, were Collaboration Risk Bias 2.0 tool. To assess relationships between trial characteristics reporting, bivariate regression analyses used. Results From 878 publications, 37 met criteria. mean across 51.2% (SD = 20.8). Evaluation our secondary outcome – assessment demonstrated significantly higher when (1) Consort guideline mentioned within RCT (<i>p</i> 0.01); (2) had ‘some concerns’ bias 0.001); (3) ‘low’ risk 0.001). Conclusions Our found that there subpar adherence Due variance symptom severity importance clinical practice, we recommend journals include instructions authors use before they publish