Assessing the Quality of Statistical Reports of Randomised Clinical Trials

Abstract

Randomised clinical trials are the optimum way to compare effectiveness of different interventions. It is well known that randomised trials have the power promptly to influence patients care. In spite of that reviews of published trials have always found significant deficiencies in reporting [2][3]. It is therefore utterly realistic to call for higher standards for papers reporting randomised trials.In this article we will report results of a systematic review examining the quality of statistical reports in randomised clinical trials in cancer radiotherapy. Checklists for statistical aspects of phase III randomised clinical trial were compiled from guidelines for the reporting of clinical outcome studies (Consolidated Standards of Reporting Trials) (CONSORT