When research goes wrong: the importance of clinical trials methodology

摘要

Clinical trials methodology is constantly being developed andrefined. Consensus statements from the CONSORT (CONsolidatedStandards Of Reporting Trials) guidelines on clinical trial reportingand the registering of study protocols online (e.g., clinical trials.gov)has become a standard practice. This transparency and ethicalreviews of clinical trial protocols should protect participants in thesetrials but needs constant revision and refinement. Therefore, carefuladherence is needed to evolving clinical research methodology asexemplified in the Enhancing the QUAlity and Transparency Ofhealth Research (EQUATOR) network. EQUATOR is an internationalinitiative that aims to improve the value and reliability of healthresearch literature by promoting accurate and transparent reporting(https://www.equator-network.org/). It provides links to the report-ing guidelines for the main study types, for example, CONSORT(for randomized controlled trials; https://www.equator-network.org/reporting-guidelines/consort/) and PRISMA (Preferred ReportingItems for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses; https://www.equator-network.org/reporting-guidelines/prisma/). These reportingguidelines are also highlighted in the instructions for authorsof Pediatric Research because they are vital for future researchsynthesis.