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Frequency and Characteristics of Trials Using Medical Writer Support in High-Impact Oncology Journals
Eva Buck1, Alyson Haslam1, Jordan Tuia1
1Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, University of California, San Francisco.
JAMA Network Open
|February 1, 2023
Summary
Medical writers are common in oncology trials, but their use is linked to reporting surrogate end points like progression-free survival. While initial analysis suggested favorable conclusions, this association disappeared after adjusting for study variables.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Clinical Trials
- Scientific Communication
Background:
- The engagement of medical writers in scientific communication is increasing.
- The impact of medical writers on the reporting and outcomes of clinical trials remains an area of investigation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To examine the characteristics of oncology trials that utilize medical writers.
- To determine if medical writer involvement is associated with trial success or specific primary outcomes.
Main Methods:
- A cross-sectional study analyzed oncology trials published in major medical journals from May 2021 to May 2022.
- Trials were categorized based on the presence or absence of medical writer assistance.
- Key outcomes included trial success rates, primary end points, and the favorability of reported conclusions.
Main Results:
- Over half of the analyzed oncology trials (52.2%) involved medical writers.
- Trials with medical writers were more likely to report progression-free survival as an end point compared to overall survival or disease-free survival.
- An initial association between medical writer use and favorable conclusions was observed, but this did not persist after adjusting for covariates.
Conclusions:
- Oncology trials employing medical writers may show a preference for surrogate end points.
- While not directly linked to trial success, the reporting of favorable conclusions in studies with medical writers warrants careful consideration.
- Journals should maintain heightened scrutiny for studies involving medical writers, ensuring proper authorship acknowledgment.
