Douglas G Altman

..The secondary objectives are to describe, for published RCTs, (1) the reporting of loss to follow-up information, (2) the analytic methods used for handling loss to follow-up information, and (3) the extent of reported loss to follow-up...

..The generic term, 'decision tool' (DT), is therefore suggested to demonstrate that these aids, which seem different technically, are conceptually the same from a clinical viewpoint...

..The primary aim of the POSH study is to establish whether genetic status influences the prognosis of primary breast cancer independently of known prognostic factors...

..They are especially useful for avoiding misinterpretation of nonsignificant results of small studies. CIs should be provided routinely for the main results of trials and observational studies...

..We describe initiatives to develop reporting guidelines for diagnostic accuracy studies (STARD) and tumour marker prognostic studies (REMARK)...

..We describe recommended processes to produce guidelines that have evolved over several years during the preparation of a sequence of reporting guidelines including CONSORT, QUOROM, STARD and STROBE...

..Prospectively planned pooled analyses of high-quality studies, along with general availability of individual patient data and adherence to reporting guidelines, would help alleviate many of these problems...

..Published reviews of the quality of design and analysis in clinical studies are used to see what lessons can be drawn in respect of animal research. The need for clear and full reporting of research is discussed...

..There is debate concerning methods for calculating numbers needed to treat (NNT) from results of systematic reviews...

..In 1994 I observed that research papers commonly contain methodological errors, report results selectively, and draw unjustified conclusions. Here I revisit the topic and suggest how journal editors can help...

..Investigation of the nature and frequency of statistician involvement in medical research and its relation to the final editorial decision...

..e. large polyps misclassified as medium). Caution should be exercised for polyps whose colonographic diameter is below but close to the 1-cm boundary threshold in order to avoid potential miscategorisation of advanced adenomas...

..To evaluate the use and reporting of adjusted analysis in randomised controlled trials (RCTs) and compare the quality of reporting before and after the revision of the CONSORT Statement in 2001...

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..This paper outlines EQUATOR's goals and activities and offers suggestions for organizations and individuals involved in health research on how to strengthen research reporting...

..The paper provides a comprehensive overview to educate on good reporting and provide a valuable reference of issues to consider when designing, conducting, and analyzing tumor marker studies and prognostic studies in medicine in general...

..Therefore a simulation study was performed to assess the effects of different missing data techniques on the performance of a prognostic model...

..However, the normality assumption may not be appropriate for all the parameters of interest when analysing prognostic modelling studies, such as predicted survival probabilities and model performance measures...

..The reliability of models depends on informed use of statistical methods, in combination with prior knowledge of disease. We reviewed published articles to assess reporting and methods used to develop new prognostic models in cancer...

..We assessed the type and completeness of information reported in CONSORT (Consolidated Standards of Reporting Trials) flow diagrams published in current reports of randomized trials...

..However, the unavoidable interaction between CAD and the reader has not been addressed...

..To assess the methods and reporting of systematic reviews of diagnostic tests...

..A resampling study was performed to investigate the effects of different missing data methods on the performance of a prognostic model...

..We examined journals' instructions to peer reviewers to see if and how reviewers are encouraged to use them...

..To evaluate the performance of the QStatin scores for predicting the 5-year risk of developing acute renal failure, cataract, liver dysfunction and myopathy in men and women in England and Wales receiving statins...

..equator-network.org)...

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..Selective reporting of outcomes within published studies based on the nature or direction of their results has been widely suspected, but direct evidence of such bias is currently limited to case reports...

..Many reviews specifically aimed to assess the quality of randomized controlled trials (RCTs). We evaluated the quality of reporting in such reviews...

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..We reviewed published articles to assess the methods and reporting used to develop and evaluate performance of prognostic indices and risk groups from prognostic models...

..To evaluate the performance of the QFractureScores for predicting the 10 year risk of osteoporotic and hip fractures in an independent UK cohort of patients from general practice records...

..To compare the performance and acceptability of unsupervised self-sampling with clinician sampling for high-risk human papillomavirus (HPV) types for the first time in a UK screening setting...

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..In particular, those which modify or conceal sample characteristics (e.g. disease prevalence or reporting intensity) or research setting ("laboratory" versus "field"). We also investigated recall bias...

..Technicians who report more slowly are more accurate. All groups reported faster as the study period progressed...

..equator-network.org). Poor reporting practices can be decreased only through close collaboration of all parties involved in research and its publication; EQUATOR can facilitate the process...

..We detail the subsequent development and extension of CONSORT and consider related initiatives aimed at improving the reliability of the medical research literature...

..In this paper we expand on the REMARK checklist to enhance its use and effectiveness through better understanding of the intent of each item and why the information is important to report...

..Variability in endoscopic assessment necessitates rigorous investigation of descriptors for scoring severity of ulcerative colitis (UC)...

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..Achievement of improved design, conduct, and reporting of surgical research will need concerted action by editors, funders of health care and research, regulatory bodies, and professional societies...

..A checklist highlighting the important considerations when designing a simulation study is provided. A small review of the literature identifies the current practices within published simulation studies...

..This will increase the power of an analysis and may produce models that are more statistically reliable and applicable within clinical practice...

..Previous studies indicate that the interpretation of trial results can be distorted by authors of published reports...

..In addition to presenting the study design, we review the recruitment experience for the Oxford Conception Study. We have achieved sustained and effective recruitment over time by primary use of recruiting via the Internet...

..The use of correlation is misleading. An alternative approach, based on graphical techniques and simple calculations, is described, together with the relation between this analysis and the assessment of repeatability...

..Studies are poorly reported, however, and the authors propose a minimum data set for study reporting...

..To independently evaluate the performance of the QRISK score for predicting 10 year risk of cardiovascular disease in an independent UK cohort of patients from general practice and compare the performance with Framingham equations...

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..We hope that the STROBE Statement will contribute to improving the quality of reporting of observational studies...

..The use of complex statistical models to adjust for confounding is common in medical research...

..A systematic review has shown that the quality of reporting of trials improves in journals that have adopted this guidance, although with significant variation, most likely due to differing levels of editorial adherence to it...

..In this paper we describe methods for analysing such clustered observations, both when the underlying quantity is assumed to be changing and when it is not...

..Conflating what Bayes actually offers to meta-analysts-a means of converting likelihood functions to credibility intervals-with the use of likelihood functions themselves to summarize, contrast and combine studies is at best misleading...

..Selective reporting of positive outcomes is associated with bias...

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..As its computation is similar in cross-over and parallel trials, it is the method of choice to pool results from parallel and cross-over trials in a combined design meta-analysis...

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..Better reporting will help readers critically appraise and interpret trial results. Journals can support this goal by revising Instructions to Authors so that they refer authors to this document...

..To determine the validity of adjusted indirect comparisons by using data from published meta-analyses of randomised trials...

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..Dichotomization of continuous data is unnecessary for statistical analysis and in particular should not be applied to explanatory variables in regression models...

..They also explain how systematic review can help guide methodologic development for future research...

..We set out to capture a representative cross-sectional sample of published SRs and examine them in terms of a broad range of epidemiological, descriptive, and reporting characteristics, including emerging aspects not previously examined...

..This paper concentrates on RCTs of a different design-two-period, two-treatment cross-over trials...

..Our measure is easy to calculate, can be illustrated pictorially, and can be used to identify subgroups with especially poor follow-up...

..In sum, the CONSORT statement is intended to improve the reporting of an RCT, enabling readers to understand a trial's conduct and to assess the validity of its results...

..We show that both within- and between meta-analysis heterogeneity may be of importance in the analysis of meta-epidemiological studies, and that confounding exists between the effects of publication status and trial quality...

..Differences in the weight estimation between WMD and SWMD can also accentuate the relative weight of cross-over trials, which must be considered a case of design-specific bias...

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..The intent is to improve reporting of noninferiority and equivalence trials, enabling readers to assess the validity of their results and conclusions...

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..We sought to determine whether outcome reporting bias would be present in a cohort of government-funded trials subjected to rigorous peer review...

..The conduct of randomized, controlled trials of nonpharmacologic treatments presents specific challenges that are not adequately addressed in trial reports...

..This extension, in conjunction with the main CONSORT Statement and other CONSORT extensions, should help to improve the reporting of RCTs performed in this field...

..We investigate how the peer review process affected table and figure quality...

..To determine whether the adoption of the CONSORT checklist is associated with improvement in the quality of reporting of randomised controlled trials (RCTs)...

..To examine the extent and nature of outcome reporting bias in a broad cohort of published randomised trials...