Sutton, A.J. orcid.org/0000-0003-2449-2516, Galvan De La Cruz, M.C., Leaviss, J. et al. (1 more author) (2018) Searching for Trial Protocols: a comparison of methods. Research Synthesis Methods, 9 (4). pp. 551-560. ISSN 1759-2879
Abstract
Introduction: Registration and publication of trial protocols has become increasingly important and a requirement in some sources of funding and publication. Increased access to protocols yields many potential benefits, but there are issues regarding identification of published protocols. The aim of this investigation is to compare methods of retrieval for identifying trial protocols in a systematic review.
Methods: Six stages of searching (checking published trial reports, searching journal websites, Internet searching, trial registers, bibliographic databases, contact with authors) were completed to identify 74 trial protocols.
Results: 57% of the trial protocols were identified upon completion of all six stages of searching. The most comprehensive method was searching trial registers which identified 51% of the protocols. Contact with authors was most effective at uniquely identifying protocols, 12% were retrieved via this single method. Contact with authors was the only effective method of identifying protocols for trials pre-2005.
Discussion: When attempting to identify trial protocols for systematic reviews, some methods are relatively quick to undertake but deliver a low yield. The most effective search strategy for most sources was retrieval by trial registration number where available.
Conclusions: For protocols of trial results published pre-2005, review authors should contact authors as a priority. For protocols post-2005, they should check the trial publication for protocol details, search trial registers, contact authors, ceasing searching once a predetermined point of diminishing returns has been reached.
Metadata
Item Type: | Article |
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Authors/Creators: |
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Copyright, Publisher and Additional Information: | This is the peer reviewed version of the following article: Sutton A, Galvan De La Cruz MC, Leaviss J, Booth A. Searching for Trial Protocols: a comparison of methods. Res Syn Meth. 2017, which has been published in final form at https://doi.org/10.1002/jrsm.1281. This article may be used for non-commercial purposes in accordance with Wiley Terms and Conditions for Self-Archiving. |
Keywords: | Clinical Protocols; Clinical Trials; Information Storage and Retrieval; Systematic Reviews |
Dates: |
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Institution: | The University of Sheffield |
Academic Units: | The University of Sheffield > Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health (Sheffield) > School of Health and Related Research (Sheffield) > ScHARR - Sheffield Centre for Health and Related Research |
Funding Information: | Funder Grant number NATIONAL INSTITUTE FOR HEALTH RESEARCH 14/26/08 |
Depositing User: | Symplectic Sheffield |
Date Deposited: | 23 Oct 2017 14:37 |
Last Modified: | 01 Feb 2024 10:57 |
Published Version: | https://doi.org/10.1002/jrsm.1281 |
Status: | Published |
Publisher: | Wiley |
Refereed: | Yes |
Identification Number: | 10.1002/jrsm.1281 |
Open Archives Initiative ID (OAI ID): | oai:eprints.whiterose.ac.uk:122891 |