Eligibility Criteria of Randomized Clinical Trials in Critical Care Medicine.

ABSTRACT:

Importance

Eligibility criteria for randomized clinical trials (RCTs) are designed to select clinically relevant patient populations. However, not all eligibility criteria are strongly justified, potentially excluding marginalized groups, and limiting the generalizability of trial findings.

Objective

To summarize and evaluate the justification of exclusion criteria in published RCTs in critical care medicine.

Evidence review

A systematic sampling review of parallel-group RCTs published in the top 5 general internal medicine journals by impact factor (The Lancet, New England Journal of Medicine, Journal of the American Medical Association, British Medical Journal, and Annals of Internal Medicine) between January 1, 2018, and February 23, 2023, was conducted. RCTs enrol

SUBMITTER: Heirali A 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11742542 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature