Systematic Reviews Published in Emergency Medicine Journals Do Not Routinely Search Clinical Trials Registries: A Cross-Sectional Analysis.

ABSTRACT:

Study objective

Publication bias compromises the validity of systematic reviews. This problem can be addressed in part through searching clinical trials registries to identify unpublished studies. This study aims to determine how often systematic reviews published in emergency medicine journals include clinical trials registry searches.

Methods

We identified all systematic reviews published in the 6 highest-impact emergency medicine journals between January 1 and December 31, 2013. Systematic reviews that assessed the effects of an intervention were further examined to determine whether the authors described searching a clinical trials registry and whether this search identified relevant unpublished studies.

Results

Of 191 articles identified through PubMed search, 80

SUBMITTER: Keil LG 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4408207 | biostudies-literature | 2015 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature