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Influence of overstated abstract conclusions on clinicians: a web-based randomised controlled trial
Kiyomi Shinohara1, Takuya Aoki2, Ryuhei So1,3
1Department of Health Promotion and Human Behavior, Kyoto University Graduate School of Medicine/School of Public Health, Kyoto, Japan.
BMJ Open
|December 17, 2017
Summary
Overstated conclusions in randomized controlled trials (RCTs) did not sway physician judgments on intervention benefits. However, physicians found conclusions more valid when they were not overstated.
Area of Science:
- Medical Research
- Clinical Trial Reporting
- Evidence-Based Medicine
Background:
- Accurate reporting of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) is crucial for evidence-based medicine.
- Overstatements in abstract conclusions may potentially bias healthcare professionals' interpretations.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine if exaggerated claims in RCT abstracts influence primary care physicians' (PCPs) evaluations of intervention effectiveness.
- To assess the impact of overstatements on PCPs' perception of conclusion validity.
Main Methods:
- A survey involving 622 primary care physicians randomly assigned to read RCT abstracts with or without overstated conclusions.
- Participants evaluated intervention benefits (0-10 scale) and conclusion validity.
- Five RCT abstracts with non-significant primary outcomes and overstated conclusions were modified to create a 'without overstatement' version.
Main Results:
- No significant difference was observed in PCPs' evaluations of intervention benefits between the two groups (p=0.69).
- Physicians rated conclusions as significantly more valid when presented without overstatements (p<0.001).
Conclusions:
- Overstatements in RCT abstract conclusions do not significantly alter PCPs' judgment of intervention effects when primary outcome data is clearly presented.
- The perceived validity of study conclusions is negatively impacted by exaggerated claims.
Keywords:
clinical trialgeneral practiceoverstatementsprimary care physiciansrandomised controlled trialsreporting biasMore Related Videos
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