Participant and trial characteristics reported in predictive analyses of trial attrition: an umbrella review of systematic reviews of randomised controlled trials across multiple conditions.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Trial attrition poses several risks for the validity of randomised controlled trials (RCTs). To better understand attrition, studies have explored and identified predictors among participant and trial characteristics. Reviews of these have so far been limited to single conditions. We performed an umbrella review to explore which participant and trial characteristics are reported in predictive analyses of trial attrition in systematic reviews of RCTs across multiple conditions.

Methods

We searched MEDLINE, Embase, Web of Science and the Online Resource for Research in Clinical TriAls for systematic reviews of RCTs that evaluated associations between participant/trial characteristics and attrition. We included quantitative systematic reviews of adult populations tha

SUBMITTER: McChrystal R 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11900635 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature