Skip to main content

Research Repository

Advanced Search

Quality of missing data reporting and handling in palliative care trials demonstrates that further development of the CONSORT statement is required : a systematic review

Hussain, Jamilla A.; Johnson, Miriam J.; Currow, David C.; White, Ian R.; Currow, David; Hussain, Jamilla; Johnson, Miriam; Bland, Martin; Langan, Dean; White, Ian

Authors

Jamilla A. Hussain

Miriam J. Johnson

David C. Currow

Ian R. White

David Currow

Jamilla Hussain

Martin Bland

Dean Langan

Ian White



Abstract

Objectives Assess (i) the quality of reporting and handling of missing data (MD) in palliative care trials, (ii) whether there are differences in the reporting of criteria specified by the Consolidated Standards of Reporting Trials (CONSORT) 2010 statement compared with those not specified, and (iii) the association of the reporting of MD with journal impact factor and CONSORT endorsement status. Study Design and Setting Systematic review of palliative care randomized controlled trials. CENTRAL, MEDLINE, and EMBASE (2009–2014) were searched. Results One hundred and eight trials (15,560 participants) were included. MD was incompletely reported and not handled in accordance with current guidance. Reporting criteria specified by the CONSORT statement were better reported than those not specified (participant flow, 69%; number of participants not included in the primary outcome analysis, 94%; and the reason for MD, 71%). However, MD in items contributing to scale summaries (10%) and secondary outcomes (9%) were poorly reported, so the proportion of MD stated is likely to be an underestimate. The reason for MD provided was unclear for 54% of participants and only 16% of trials with MD reported a MD sensitivity analysis. The odds of reporting most of the MD and other risk of bias reporting criteria were increased as the journal impact factor increased and in journals that endorsed the CONSORT statement. Conclusion Further development of the CONSORT MD reporting guidance is likely to improve the quality of reporting. Reporting recommendations are provided.

Citation

Hussain, J. A., Johnson, M. J., Currow, D. C., White, I. R., Currow, D., Hussain, J., …White, I. (2017). Quality of missing data reporting and handling in palliative care trials demonstrates that further development of the CONSORT statement is required : a systematic review. Journal of clinical epidemiology, 88, 81-91. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclinepi.2017.05.009

Journal Article Type Review
Acceptance Date May 15, 2017
Online Publication Date May 19, 2017
Publication Date Aug 1, 2017
Deposit Date Sep 5, 2017
Publicly Available Date Mar 29, 2024
Journal Journal of clinical epidemiology
Print ISSN 0895-4356
Electronic ISSN 1878-5921
Publisher Elsevier
Peer Reviewed Peer Reviewed
Volume 88
Pages 81-91
DOI https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclinepi.2017.05.009
Keywords Missing data; Data reporting; Research report; Randomized controlled trials; Palliative care; Systematic review
Public URL https://hull-repository.worktribe.com/output/454492
Publisher URL http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0895435616304735?via%3Dihub
Additional Information This article is maintained by: Elsevier; Article Title: Quality of missing data reporting and handling in palliative care trials demonstrates that further development of the CONSORT statement is required: a systematic review; Journal Title: Journal of Clinical Epidemiology; CrossRef DOI link to publisher maintained version: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jclinepi.2017.05.009; Content Type: article; Copyright: © 2017 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Inc.