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Outcome discrepancies and selective reporting: impacting the leading journals?
Padhraig S Fleming1, Despina Koletsi2, Kerry Dwan3
1Oral Growth and Development, Barts and The London School of Medicine and Dentistry, Institute of Dentistry, Queen Mary University of London, London, England.
Plos One
|May 22, 2015
Summary
Selective outcome reporting is common in medical journals. Discrepancies between clinical trial registry entries and published results for primary and non-primary outcomes were frequently observed, potentially impacting treatment decisions.
Area of Science:
- Clinical Research Integrity
- Medical Journal Publication Standards
- Biostatistics and Data Reporting
Background:
- Selective outcome reporting of positive or interesting findings poses risks for informed medical treatment decisions.
- Assessing discrepancies between clinical trial registries and published reports is crucial for transparency.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the frequency of outcome discrepancies and selective reporting between clinical trial registry entries and published articles.
- To examine leading high-impact medical journals for reporting inconsistencies.
Main Methods:
- A review of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) published over a six-month period in five major medical journals.
- Identification and analysis of discrepancies between trial registry entries and published reports, considering factors like outcome changes, funding, and statistical significance.
Main Results:
- 137 RCTs were analyzed, with 18% showing primary outcome discrepancies and 15% changing the primary outcome.
- Non-primary outcome differences were prevalent (64%), including omissions (39%) and new additions (44%).
- No significant association was found between outcome changes and registration timing, funding source, or statistical significance.
Conclusions:
- Significant discrepancies in both primary and non-primary outcomes between registry entries and published articles are common in top medical journals.
- Current practices necessitate novel strategies to ensure accurate and transparent reporting of clinical trial results.
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