Clinical trials registries are under-utilized in the conduct of systematic reviews: a cross-sectional analysis.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Publication bias is a major threat to the validity of systematic reviews. Searches of clinical trials registries can help to identify unpublished trials, though little is known about how often these resources are utilized. We assessed the usage and results of registry searches reported in systematic reviews published in major general medical journals.

Methods

This cross-sectional analysis includes data from systematic reviews assessing medical interventions which were published in one of six major general medical journals between July 2012 and June 2013. Two authors independently examined each published systematic review and all available supplementary materials to determine whether at least one clinical trials registry was searched.

Results

Of the 117 incl

SUBMITTER: Jones CW 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4217330 | biostudies-literature | 2014 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature