Global mapping of randomized controlled trials in dentistry

Area of Science:

• Dental research
• Clinical trials
• Meta-research

Background:

• Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) are fundamental for evidence-based dentistry.
• Evaluating the quality of RCTs is crucial for reliable clinical decision-making.
• Previous assessments of dental RCT conduct and reporting are limited.

Purpose of the Study:

• To comprehensively evaluate the conduct, reporting standards, and characteristics of published dental RCTs.
• To identify trends in dental research output and international scientific collaboration.
• To pinpoint areas for improvement in the methodology and reporting of dental RCTs.

Main Methods:

• Systematic search of PubMed for dental RCTs published from December 31, 2016, to December 31, 2021.
• Independent screening of 844 eligible English-language studies by two reviewers.
• Data extraction included journal metrics, study subject, reporting details, and conduct characteristics.

Main Results:

• Periodontics was the primary research area (16.35%). Brazil led in RCT production (16.59%), while the USA had the most international collaborations.
• A majority of studies included "randomized" in the title (71.92%) and reported allocation sequence generation (65.88%) and blinding (74.88%).
• However, many studies failed to report CONSORT guideline adherence (67.89%), randomization type (69.31%), or allocation concealment (52.37%).

Conclusions:

• Significant variability exists in the reporting and conduct of dental RCTs.
• While core elements like randomization and blinding are often reported, adherence to reporting guidelines needs improvement.
• Findings highlight the need for enhanced methodological rigor and transparent reporting in dental research to support robust clinical practice.