Searching for unpublished data for Cochrane reviews: cross sectional study.

ABSTRACT:

Objective

To describe the experiences of authors of Cochrane reviews in searching for, getting access to, and using unpublished data.

Design

Cross sectional study.

Setting

Cochrane reviews.

Participants

2184 corresponding authors of Cochrane reviews as of May 2012.

Main outcome measure

Frequencies of responses to open ended and closed questions in an online survey.

Results

Of 5915 authors contacted by email, 2184 replied (36.9% response rate). Of those, 1656 (75.8%) had searched for unpublished data. In 913 cases (55.1% of 1656), new data were obtained and we received details about these data for 794 data sources. The most common data source was "trialists/investigators," accounting for 73.9% (n=587) of the 794 data sources. Most of the data were

SUBMITTER: Schroll JB 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3633324 | biostudies-literature | 2013 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature