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Controlled Trials in Children: Quantity, Methodological Quality and Descriptive Characteristics of Pediatric Controlled Trials Published 1948-2006

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  • Denise Thomson
  • Lisa Hartling
  • Eyal Cohen
  • Ben Vandermeer
  • Lisa Tjosvold
  • Terry P Klassen

Abstract

Background: The objective of this study was to describe randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and controlled clinical trials (CCTs) in child health published between 1948 and 2006, in terms of quantity, methodological quality, and publication and trial characteristics. We used the Trials Register of the Cochrane Child Health Field for overall trends and a sample from this to explore trial characteristics in more detail. Methodology/Principal Findings: We extracted descriptive data on a random sample of 578 trials. Ninety-six percent of the trials were published in English; the percentage of child-only trials was 90.5%. The most frequent diagnostic categories were infectious diseases (13.2%), behavioural and psychiatric disorders (11.6%), neonatal critical care (11.4%), respiratory disorders (8.9%), non-critical neonatology (7.9%), and anaesthesia (6.5%). There were significantly fewer child-only studies (i.e., more mixed child and adult studies) over time (P = 0.0460). The proportion of RCTs to CCTs increased significantly over time (P

Suggested Citation

  • Denise Thomson & Lisa Hartling & Eyal Cohen & Ben Vandermeer & Lisa Tjosvold & Terry P Klassen, 2010. "Controlled Trials in Children: Quantity, Methodological Quality and Descriptive Characteristics of Pediatric Controlled Trials Published 1948-2006," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 5(9), pages 1-9, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:plo:pone00:0013106
    DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0013106
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    Cited by:

    1. Peter J Gill & Kay Yee Wang & David Mant & Lisa Hartling & Carl Heneghan & Rafael Perera & Terry Klassen & Anthony Harnden, 2011. "The Evidence Base for Interventions Delivered to Children in Primary Care: An Overview of Cochrane Systematic Reviews," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 6(8), pages 1-9, August.
    2. Humam Saltaji & Susan Armijo-Olivo & Greta G Cummings & Maryam Amin & Carlos Flores-Mir, 2017. "Randomized clinical trials in dentistry: Risks of bias, risks of random errors, reporting quality, and methodologic quality over the years 1955–2013," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 12(12), pages 1-25, December.
    3. Babalwa Zani & Elizabeth D Pienaar & Joy Oliver & Nandi Siegfried, 2011. "Randomized Controlled Trials of HIV/AIDS Prevention and Treatment in Africa: Results from the Cochrane HIV/AIDS Specialized Register," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 6(12), pages 1-9, December.

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