biostudies-literatureUnknown152Liang AWestern University Schulich School of Medicine &amp;amp; Dentistry<h4>Objective</h4>To explore qualitatively the relationship between selected trial design choices and proxies for a scientific and clinical uptake in a cohort of published randomized controlled trials (RCTs) of corticosteroids for COVID-19, to identify design characteristics that may result in trials with potential to eliminate equipoise, achieve uptake, and help reduce research waste.<h4>Study design and setting</h4>A systematic literature search and qualitative, narrative review of published RCTs (up to April 13, 2021) evaluating the effectiveness of systemic corticosteroids in treatment of COVID-19. We extracted information on sample size, number of centers, single-country or multi-country conduct, dates of initiation and of publication, risk of bias and pragmatism scores, and also on aJournal of clinical epidemiology116-124https://www.ebi.ac.uk/biostudies/studies/S-EPMC9536028biostudies-literatureThe relationship between pragmatism, timing, and study size on impact of randomized trials: a qualitative, hypothesis generating study of trials of systemic corticosteroids for COVID-19.PMC9536028Deng XDLiang ACirone KDZwarenstein MfalseThe relationship between pragmatism, timing, and study size on impact of randomized trials: a qualitative, hypothesis generating study of trials of systemic corticosteroids for COVID-19.<h4>Objective</h4>To explore qualitatively the relationship between selected trial design choices and proxies for a scientific and clinical uptake in a cohort of published randomized controlled trials (RCTs) of corticosteroids for COVID-19, to identify design characteristics that may result in trials with potential to eliminate equipoise, achieve uptake, and help reduce research waste.<h4>Study design and setting</h4>A systematic literature search and qualitative, narrative review of published RCTs (up to April 13, 2021) evaluating the effectiveness of systemic corticosteroids in treatment of COVID-19. We extracted information on sample size, number of centers, single-country or multi-country conduct, dates of initiation and of publication, risk of bias and pragmatism scores, and also on a2022-01-01T00:00:00Z2022 Oct2025-04-22T09:52:28.824Z2025-02-19T01:08:00.169ZS-EPMC95360283620991410.1016/j.jclinepi.2022.09.018