An evaluation of method reporting and use in clinical trials in dermatology

In a survey of 62 clinical trials published in four dermatology journals, recommended methodology was reported 41% of the time. Of the 62 trials, 31 were open drug trials and 27 were controlled trials. Forty-one percent of 13 recommended methodologic items were reported in these articles. The rate of reporting for these items ranged from 3% for power and method of randomization to 76% for loss to follow-up and the use of a control group. There were no differences among journals in reporting methods used. Investigators and editors are encouraged to improve the reporting and use of recommended methodology in clinical trials published in the dermatologic literature.