Reporting transparency and completeness in trials: Paper 3 – trials conducted using administrative databases do not adequately report elements related to use of databases

Langan, Sinéad M.; Imran, Mahrukh; Mc Cord, Kimberly; McCall, Stephen J.; Kwakkenbos, Linda; Sampson, Margaret; Fröbert, Ole; Gale, Chris; Hemkens, Lars G.; Langan, Sinéad M; Moher, David; Relton, Clare; Zwarenstein, Merrick; Juszczak, Edmund; Thombs, Brett D.

Abstract

Objective: We evaluated reporting completeness and transparency in randomized controlled trials (RCTs) conducted using administrative data based on 2021 CONSORT Extension for Trials Conducted Using Cohorts and Routinely Collected Data (CONSORT-ROUTINE) criteria. Study Design and Setting: MEDLINE and the Cochrane Methodology Register were searched (2011 and 2018). Eligible RCTs used administrative databases for identifying eligible participants or collecting outcomes. We evaluated reporting based on CONSORT-ROUTINE, which modified eight items from CONSORT 2010 and added five new items. Results: Of 33 included trials (76% used administrative databases for outcomes, 3% for identifying participants, 21% both), most were conducted in the United States (55%), Canada (18%), or the United Kingdom (12%). Of eight items modified in the extension; six were adequately reported in a majority (>50%) of trials. For the CONSORT-ROUTINE modification portion of those items, three items were reported adequately in >50% of trials, two in <50%, two only applied to some trials, and one only had wording modifications and was not evaluated. For five new items, four that address use of routine data in trials were reported inadequately in most trials. Conclusion: How administrative data are used in trials is often sub-optimally reported. CONSORT-ROUTINE uptake may improve reporting.

Citation

Langan, S. M., Imran, M., Mc Cord, K., McCall, S. J., Kwakkenbos, L., Sampson, M., Fröbert, O., Gale, C., Hemkens, L. G., Langan, S. M., Moher, D., Relton, C., Zwarenstein, M., Juszczak, E., & Thombs, B. D. (2022). Reporting transparency and completeness in trials: Paper 3 – trials conducted using administrative databases do not adequately report elements related to use of databases. Journal of Clinical Epidemiology, 141, 187-197. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclinepi.2021.09.010

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Sep 7, 2021
• Online Publication Date: Sep 11, 2021
• Publication Date: Jan 1, 2022
• Deposit Date: Oct 27, 2021
• Publicly Available Date: Oct 27, 2021
• Journal: Journal of Clinical Epidemiology
• Print ISSN: 0895-4356
• Electronic ISSN: 1878-5921
• Publisher: Elsevier
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 141
• Pages: 187-197
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclinepi.2021.09.010
• Keywords: Epidemiology
• Public URL: https://nottingham-repository.worktribe.com/output/6540249
• Publisher URL: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0895435621002900
• Additional Information: Authors on behalf of CONSORT Extension for Trials Conducted Using Cohorts and Routinely Collected Data Group.