Problems in the reporting of acne clinical trials: a spot check from the 2009 Annual Evidence Update on Acne Vulgaris.

Trials
J R IngramHywel C Williams

Abstract

In the course of producing the 2009 NHS Evidence--skin disorders Annual Evidence Update on Acne Vulgaris, 25 randomised controlled trials were examined. From these, at least 12 potentially serious problems of trial reporting were identified. Several trials concluded no effect of a treatment yet they were insufficiently powered to exclude potentially useful benefits. There were examples of duplicate publication and "salami publication", as well as two trials being combined and reported as one. In some cases, an incorrect "within-groups" statistical comparison was made and one trial report omitted original efficacy data and included only P values. Both of the non-inferiority studies examined failed to pre-specify a non-inferiority margin. Trials reported as "double-blind" compared treatments that were dissimilar in appearance or had differing adverse effect profiles. In one case an intention-to-treat analysis was not performed and there was a failure to account for all of the randomized participants. Trial results were made to sound more impressive by selective outcome reporting, emphasizing the statistical significance of treatment effects that were clinically insignificant, and by the use of larger-sounding odds ratios rather t...Continue Reading

References

Apr 29, 2000·Annals of Internal Medicine·W L GreeneA R Feinstein
Apr 28, 2004·Australian and New Zealand Journal of Public Health·Konrad Jamrozik
Jul 15, 2005·JAMA : the Journal of the American Medical Association·John P A Ioannidis
Jun 21, 2006·Archives of Dermatology·Kenneth A Katz
Jun 8, 2007·American Journal of Ophthalmology·Kirk R Wilhelmus
Jul 10, 2007·The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition·Robyn N SmithGeorge A Varigos
Apr 12, 2008·Indian Journal of Dermatology, Venereology and Leprology·Rajeev DhirYuvraj E More
Jun 25, 2008·European Journal of Dermatology : EJD·Janusz MarcinkiewiczAndrzej Kasprowicz
Jan 13, 2009·International Journal of Cosmetic Science·C RuamrakS Natakankitkul
Apr 2, 2009·International Journal of Dermatology·Elsa H SpencerNeal D Barnard
Oct 31, 2009·Clinical and Experimental Dermatology·J R IngramH C Williams
Nov 21, 2009·Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology·Kenneth A KatzHywel C Williams

❮ Previous
Next ❯

Citations

Sep 2, 2011·Lancet·Hywel C WilliamsSarah Garner
Nov 4, 2011·The Journal of Investigative Dermatology·Hywel C Williams, Robert P Dellavalle
Jul 9, 2016·Journal of Clinical Epidemiology·Shanil EbrahimJohn P A Ioannidis
Sep 28, 2016·The Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews·Jelena BarbaricJosip Car
Mar 17, 2020·The Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews·Zhirong YangQian Zhang
Mar 31, 2021·Dermatology : International Journal for Clinical and Investigative Dermatology·Hywel C Williams

❮ Previous
Next ❯

Software Mentioned

CONSORT

Related Concepts

Trending Feeds

COVID-19

Coronaviruses encompass a large family of viruses that cause the common cold as well as more serious diseases, such as the ongoing outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19; formally known as 2019-nCoV). Coronaviruses can spread from animals to humans; symptoms include fever, cough, shortness of breath, and breathing difficulties; in more severe cases, infection can lead to death. This feed covers recent research on COVID-19.

Blastomycosis

Blastomycosis fungal infections spread through inhaling Blastomyces dermatitidis spores. Discover the latest research on blastomycosis fungal infections here.

Nuclear Pore Complex in ALS/FTD

Alterations in nucleocytoplasmic transport, controlled by the nuclear pore complex, may be involved in the pathomechanism underlying multiple neurodegenerative diseases including Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis and Frontotemporal Dementia. Here is the latest research on the nuclear pore complex in ALS and FTD.

Applications of Molecular Barcoding

The concept of molecular barcoding is that each original DNA or RNA molecule is attached to a unique sequence barcode. Sequence reads having different barcodes represent different original molecules, while sequence reads having the same barcode are results of PCR duplication from one original molecule. Discover the latest research on molecular barcoding here.

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

Chronic fatigue syndrome is a disease characterized by unexplained disabling fatigue; the pathology of which is incompletely understood. Discover the latest research on chronic fatigue syndrome here.

Evolution of Pluripotency

Pluripotency refers to the ability of a cell to develop into three primary germ cell layers of the embryo. This feed focuses on the mechanisms that underlie the evolution of pluripotency. Here is the latest research.

Position Effect Variegation

Position Effect Variagation occurs when a gene is inactivated due to its positioning near heterochromatic regions within a chromosome. Discover the latest research on Position Effect Variagation here.

STING Receptor Agonists

Stimulator of IFN genes (STING) are a group of transmembrane proteins that are involved in the induction of type I interferon that is important in the innate immune response. The stimulation of STING has been an active area of research in the treatment of cancer and infectious diseases. Here is the latest research on STING receptor agonists.

Microbicide

Microbicides are products that can be applied to vaginal or rectal mucosal surfaces with the goal of preventing, or at least significantly reducing, the transmission of sexually transmitted infections. Here is the latest research on microbicides.