A 30 year perspective of the quality of evidence published in 25 clinical journals: Signs of change?

摘要

MethodsThe quality of clinical studies published in five different specialties, over three decades was evaluated. Computerised search of the Medline database was undertaken to evaluate the articles published in 25 clinical journals in 1983, 1993, and 2003 from five different specialties (medicine, surgery, paediatrics, anaesthesia, and psychiatry). The number of randomised controlled trials (RCTs), meta‐analyses, and other clinical trials (non‐RCT) were noted.