Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jan 1, 2026

Inverse Probability of Treatment Weighting Propensity Score using the Military Health System Data Repository and National Death Index
06:55

Inverse Probability of Treatment Weighting Propensity Score using the Military Health System Data Repository and National Death Index

Published on: January 8, 2020

15.0K

An absence of pediatric randomized controlled trials in general medical journals, 1985-2004

Eyal Cohen1, Elizabeth Uleryk, Mona Jasuja

  • 1Division of Paediatric Medicine and the Paediatric Outcomes Research Team, Department of Paediatrics, The Hospital for Sick Children, University of Toronto, Faculty of Medicine, Toronto, ON, Canada. eyal.cohen@sickkids.ca

Journal of Clinical Epidemiology
|January 9, 2007
PubMed

Insights

Pediatric randomized controlled trials (RCTs) are published less frequently than adult RCTs in general medical journals, suggesting potential barriers to pediatric research publication.

Area of Science:

  • Clinical Trials
  • Pediatric Research
  • Medical Journal Publishing

Background:

  • Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) are crucial for evidence-based medicine.
  • Conducting RCTs in pediatric populations presents unique challenges.
  • The publication trends and quality of pediatric RCTs in general medical journals (GMJs) are not well understood.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To compare the quantity, trends, characteristics, and quality of pediatric RCTs versus adult RCTs published in GMJs.
  • To identify potential barriers to publishing pediatric RCTs.

Main Methods:

  • A comprehensive search of adult and pediatric RCTs published between 1985-2004 was conducted.
  • A manual search of RCTs published in five high-impact GMJs in the year 2000 was performed.
  • Publication characteristics and quality scores (Jadad score, intention-to-treat analysis, citation frequency) were analyzed.

Main Results:

  • Adult RCTs increased significantly more per year than pediatric RCTs (4.71 vs. 0.4 RCTs/year).
  • Adult RCTs were more likely to be hospital-based and involve more centers.
  • While quality scores were similar, adult RCTs received more citations.

Conclusions:

  • There are likely significant barriers hindering the publication of high-quality pediatric RCTs in major general medical journals.
  • Further research is needed to understand and overcome these barriers to improve pediatric clinical trial dissemination.
Abstract

More Related Videos

Whole-body PET/MRI of Pediatric Patients: The Details That Matter10:02

Whole-body PET/MRI of Pediatric Patients: The Details That Matter

Published on: December 19, 2017

15.1K
Guidelines for Elective Pediatric Fiberoptic Intubation11:19

Guidelines for Elective Pediatric Fiberoptic Intubation

Published on: January 17, 2011

18.2K

Related Concept Videos

Pharmacokinetics in Pediatric Patients: Overview and Drug Absorption01:23

Pharmacokinetics in Pediatric Patients: Overview and Drug Absorption

Understanding the physiological differences in the pediatric population is crucial for effective pharmacotherapy. Neonates, infants, and children exhibit significant variations in gastric pH, gastric emptying time, intestinal transit time, and biliary function. These variations profoundly affect oral drug absorption, necessitating a nuanced approach to pediatric dosing.Neonates present with a unique physiological profile, having a gastric pH greater than 4 and faster and more irregular gastric...
191
Pharmacokinetics in Pediatric Patients: Drug Distribution01:17

Pharmacokinetics in Pediatric Patients: Drug Distribution

Drug distribution in the pediatric population exhibits unique challenges and considerations due to the physiological differences between children, particularly neonates and infants, and adults. A crucial aspect of pediatric pharmacology is understanding how these differences impact the pharmacokinetics of various drugs, necessitating age-specific dosing strategies to ensure efficacy and safety.Neonates and infants have a higher total body water content, ~75%–90% of their body weight,...
209
Drug Dosing: Infants and Children01:29

Drug Dosing: Infants and Children

Pediatric patient dosages diverge from adults due to disparities in body surface area, total body water, and extracellular fluid per kilogram of body weight. The dosing regimen considers the variations in pharmacokinetics and pharmacology across distinct age groups, encompassing preterm newborns, infants, young children, older children, and adolescents. Calculation of pediatric patient doses is predicated on determining body surface area, which exhibits a superior correlation with the child's...
202
Pharmacokinetics in Pediatric Patients: Drug Metabolism01:24

Pharmacokinetics in Pediatric Patients: Drug Metabolism

In pediatric care, understanding the nuances of hepatic drug metabolism is crucial, as it significantly differs from that of adults. This divergence is primarily due to the developmental stage of drug-metabolizing enzymes, which affects how medications are processed in the body. In neonates, for instance, the activity of Phase I enzymes—critical for the initial breakdown of drugs—is markedly reduced, functioning at just 20–40% of the levels seen in adults. This reduction poses...
152
Pharmacokinetics in Pediatric Patients: Drug Excretion01:26

Pharmacokinetics in Pediatric Patients: Drug Excretion

In pediatric medicine, understanding the renal function and drug elimination nuances is crucial for administering safe and effective treatments. Newborns, in particular, display markedly slower renal functions than adults, profoundly affecting how drugs are cleared from their bodies. This slower drug clearance requires clinicians to extend the dosing intervals for many medications to prevent drug accumulation and toxicity while ensuring therapeutic efficacy.One key area where these adjustments...
168
Clinical Trials01:16

Clinical Trials

Clinical trials are prospective experimental studies conducted on humans to determine the safety and efficacy of treatments, drugs, diet methods, and medical devices. Using statistics in clinical trials enables researchers to derive reasonable and accurate conclusions from the collected data, allowing them to make wise decisions in uncertain situations. In medical research, statistical methods are crucial for preventing errors and bias.
There are four phases in a clinical trial. A phase one...
10.1K