Dissemination of Registered COVID-19 Clinical Trials (DIRECCT): a cross-sectional study

Area of Science:

• Clinical research methodology
• Public health emergency response
• Epidemiology

Background:

• Rapid reporting of clinical trial results is crucial during public health emergencies like COVID-19.
• This study investigated the timeliness and channels of COVID-19 clinical trial result dissemination.

Purpose of the Study:

• To examine the dissemination timeline and methods for COVID-19 clinical trial results.
• To assess reporting rates and identify factors influencing dissemination speed.

Main Methods:

• Identified COVID-19 treatment/prevention trials from WHO ICTRP database with completion dates up to June 30, 2021.
• Searched multiple databases (PubMed, Google Scholar, etc.) for published results (preprints, articles, registry entries).
• Analyzed dissemination rates and time from completion to reporting using Kaplan-Meier methods.

Main Results:

• 1643 trials were included; cumulative reporting probability was 12.5% at 3 months, 21.6% at 6 months, and 32.8% at 12 months post-completion.
• Journals were the most common dissemination route (69.2%), followed by preprints (48.3%).
• Earlier trials and those involving ivermectin showed faster reporting; registry data quality limited precision.

Conclusions:

• COVID-19 trial reporting showed only marginal improvement over standard practice, with most trials failing to meet the 12-month benchmark.
• Preprints complemented journal publications, but clinical trial registries were underutilized for rapid results dissemination.
• Improving registry data quality and emphasizing rapid reporting are essential at global, national, and institutional levels.