Trial informativeness across research practices: initial findings from a mapping exercise

Area of Science:

• Clinical Research
• Health Systems Research
• Trial Informativeness

Background:

• Trial informativeness is affected by interconnected factors in design, conduct, and knowledge mobilization.
• Current research practices' alignment of these factors is unclear.
• This study clarifies shared processes for informative trials and research systems.

Purpose of the Study:

• To identify areas of convergence across three research strands related to trial informativeness.
• To clarify shared processes and actions underpinning informative trials.
• To understand the broader research systems influencing trial quality.

Main Methods:

• A mapping exercise comparing a rapid review of global insights, content analysis of clinical trial guidance, and qualitative interviews.
• Extraction and organization of verbatim or conceptually similar actions to improve trial informativeness.
• Synthesis of supporting descriptors to capture consistent learnings across evidence sources.

Main Results:

• Identified 12 good practice actions spanning trial design, conduct, and knowledge mobilization.
• These actions reflect consistent priorities across evidence, guidance, and stakeholder perspectives.
• Implementation involves multiple actors, including funders, sponsors, investigators, and regulatory authorities.

Conclusions:

• The 12 good practice actions strengthen research systems for informative trials.
• These actions address broad drivers of trial quality within and beyond individual studies.
• Future work should focus on applying, evaluating, and refining these actions in diverse settings.