BACKGROUND Quality assessment of pediatric randomized controlled trials (RCTs) in China is limited. The aim of this study was to evaluate the quantitative trends and quality indicators of RCTs published in mainland China over a recent 10-year period. METHODS We individually searched all 17 available pediatric journals published in China from January 1, 2002 to December 30, 2011 to identify RC...

BACKGROUND Patients' treatment preferences are often cited as barriers to recruitment in randomized controlled trials (RCTs). We investigated how RCT recruiters reacted to patients' treatment preferences and identified key strategies to improve informed decision-making and trial recruitment. METHODS Audio-recordings of 103 RCT recruitment appointments with 96 participants in three UK multicen...

We read with interest the study by Cuthbertson and colleagues [1] in a recent issue of Critical Care, and we appreciate their attempts to support studies regarding selective decontamination of the digestive tract (SDD). However, we have some concerns. The argument supporting a randomized controlled trial (RCT) for the evaluation of SDD is ambiguous. The Delphi method embraces ‘quasi-anonymity’,...

Hydrocephalus is one of the most common diseases managed by pediatric neurosurgeons. Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) shunting has been the mainstay of durable treatment for hydrocephalus for many decades. There are two main categories of shunt designs for regulating the extent of CSF diversion: (1) Fixed-parameter valves and (2) adjustable valves. Furthermore, these valves can also function with and ...

Dropout is often used as an outcome measure in clinical trials of antipsychotic medication. Previous research is inconclusive regarding (a) differences in dropout rates between first- and second-generation antipsychotic medications and (b) how trial design features reduce dropout. Meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) of antipsychotic medication was conducted to compare dropout r...

Fluphenazine, a phenothiazine derivative, was one of the first drugs to be classed as an "antipsychotic" and was approved by the Food and Drug Administration in 1959. In Britain, it was first used for the relief of anxiety. The American reports, however, were the first to indicate its value in psychotic illness. Fluphenazine is an inexpensive and widely accessible antipsychotic drug that has be...

BACKGROUND Stress urinary incontinence (SUI) is a widespread complaint in the adult women. Electroacupuncture has been widely applied in the treatment of SUI. But its efficacy has not been evaluated scientifically and systematically. Therefore, we provide a protocol of systematic evaluation to assess the effectiveness and safety of electroacupuncture treatment on women with SUI. METHODS The r...

OBJECTIVES Partners are a significant influence on individuals' health, and concordance in health behaviours increases over time in couples. Several theories suggest that couple-focused interventions for health behaviour change may therefore be more effective than individual interventions. DESIGN A systematic review of health behaviour change interventions for couples was conducted. METHODS...

CONTEXT AND OBJECTIVE Well-conducted randomized controlled trials (RCTs) represent the highest level of evidence when the research question relates to the effect of therapeutic or preventive interventions. However, the degree of control over bias between RCTs presents great variability between studies. For this reason, with the increasing interest in and production of systematic reviews and met...

INTRODUCTION Publishing protocols of randomized controlled trials (RCT) facilitates a more detailed description of study rational, design, and related ethical and safety issues, which should promote transparency. Little is known about how the practice of publishing protocols developed over time. Therefore, this study describes the worldwide trends in volume and methodological quality of publish...