Contacting authors to retrieve individual patient data: study protocol for a randomized controlled trial.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Individual patient data (IPD) meta-analysis is considered the "gold standard" for exploring the effectiveness of interventions in different subgroups of patients. However, obtaining IPD is time-consuming and contact with the researchers responsible for the original trials is usually required. To date, there are no studies evaluating different strategies to optimize the process for retrieval of IPD from such researchers. Our aim is to examine the impact of providing incentives to the researchers responsible for the trials eligible for a meta-analysis to submit their IPD.

Methods/design

We updated our previously published systematic reviews for type 1 diabetes mellitus comparing long- and intermediate-acting insulin regimens (from January 2013 to June 2015) and for

SUBMITTER: Veroniki AA 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4791799 | biostudies-literature | 2016 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature