Strategies for Reporting Evidence-Based Clinical Studies Involving Positron Imaging

The objective of this investigation was to determine whether publications on positron imaging for lung cancer adhered to basic principles of data reporting and analysis according to the requirements established by payer organizations. The study sample consisted of 26 articles retrieved from the published literature for the interval 1980 to 1998. These articles were reviewed to assess the use and reporting of eight fundamental principles covering evidence-based data analysis that were formulated from payer-sponsored technology assessment program evaluations. These principles were derived from reviewing payer-sponsored assessments and reimbursement recommendations concerning diagnostic imaging technologies. The overall adherence to these basic principles was poor. The median number of principles to which articles adhered was two. In particular, the literature did not adequately include information about the role of imaging results in overall patient care, and, therefore, made any recommendations concerning the role of positron imaging in lung cancer patient management problematic. Strategies for publishing the results of positron imaging studies in the medical literature should include appropriate information that is required by payers for establishing reimbursement and clinical policies.