[Assessment of reporting quality of randomized controlled trial related to dentine hypersensitivity]

To assess the reporting quality of randomized controlled trials (RCT) related to dentine hypersensitivity which were published between 2000 and 2009 in nineteen Chinese stomatological journals, learn the current status and the influence factors of reporting quality of the dentine hypersensitivity RCT, and determine whether they can provide high quality evidence clinically.

A handsearching of nineteen Chinese stomatological journals to identify dentine hypersensitivity RCT which were published between 2000 and 2009 and labeled "random". Assess the reporting quality of these RCT by Consolidated Standards of Reporting Trials (CONSORT) statement and then analyze the influence factors of reporting quality by univariate and multivariate analyses.

We identified 61 dentine hypersensitivity RCT, among which 45 belonged to journals of Chinese scientific study statistical source and 16 belonged to journals of non-statistical source. The reporting quality of dentine hypersensitivity RCT was not high at large and the CONSORT score was 8.1 +/- 2.4 on average. Multiple linear regression showed that the score of improved Jadad scale (t=4.656, P=0.000) was the main influence factor of reporting quality of dentine hypersensitivity RCT. The better the intrinsic authenticity was, the higher the reporting quality would be.

Currently, reporting quality of Chinese dentine hypersensitivity RCT needs to be improved. In order to improve the reporting quality of dentine hypersensitivity RCT, experts in stomatology should not only improve experimental design before experiments, but also write papers in accordance with CONSORT statement.