Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 5, 2026
Randomized, Triple-Blind, and Parallel-Controlled Trial of Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation for Cognitive Rehabilitation after Stroke
Published on: June 6, 2025
Research waste of randomized controlled trials related to deep brain stimulation: a cross-sectional analysis
Qiu Zeng1, Xinxing Fei2, Qiuyu Zhou3,4
1Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, The Sixth People's Hospital of Yibin, Yibin, Sichuan, China.
Background:
Research waste undermines the value of clinical trials. This study aimed to quantify its prevalence, characterize its forms, and identify associated factors in phase III/IV randomized controlled trials (RCTs) of deep brain stimulation (DBS).
Methods:
We conducted a cross-sectional analysis of DBS trials registered on ClinicalTrials.gov. Research waste was defined as non-publication, inadequate reporting, or avoidable design flaws. Trial characteristics were extracted from registry entries. Publication status was ascertained by searching the PubMed, Embase, and Scopus databases. The chi-square or Fisher's exact test was used to compare groups, and logistic regression was used to identify factors associated with outcomes.
Results:
Among 26 eligible RCTs, the non-publication rate was 65.38%. Only 5 trials (19.23%) were free of research waste. All published trials and all waste-free trials were registered before 2009, whereas 64.71% of unpublished trials were registered in 2010 or later (P = 0.002). International recruitment was significantly associated with reduced waste (P = 0.004). Univariate analysis suggested multicenter trials (P = 0.027) and larger sample sizes (P = 0.015) were more likely to be published; however, these associations did not retain significance in multivariate models, likely due to limited statistical power.
Conclusion:
Research waste is a widespread phenomenon in DBS RCTs. Effective coordination and resource management are paramount in translating DBS research into publicly accessible evidence.
