Title:Assessment of the Quality of Randomized Clinical Trials Published by Iranian Researchers in Persian Internal Journals in 2014
Volume: 7
Issue: 1
Author(s): Mohammad Rafiei, Awat Feizi, Seyyed P. Shariatpanahi, Iman Hamraz and Danial Habibi*
Affiliation:
- Department of Biostatistics, Faculty of Medicine, Arak University of Medical Sciences, Arak,Iran
Keywords:
Randomized clinical trial, Iranian medical journals, CONSORT, framework, investigation, persian
internal journals.
Abstract:
Introduction: A randomized clinical trial is known as the best and most effective way
to assess the effects of interventions if it is properly planned and implemented. The purpose of this
study was to evaluate the quality of clinical trials published in Persian internal journals by Iranian
researchers.
Methods: In this cross-sectional study, all the clinical trials published by Iranian researchers in the
Iranian Journals in 2014, were evaluated according to entry criteria and finally 587 included articles
were reviewed and their quality was evaluated by using Consolidated Standards of Reporting
Trials (CONSORT) checklist.
Results: The results revealed that the mean±SD adherence to the CONSORT checklist’s item in
our included articles was 59.61±24.99. The lowest adherence to the items was seen for random allocation
(76.1%), description of the sampling method (70.1%) and presenting RCT code registration
(60.4%), respectively. The highest adherence was observed for title suitability (96%), appropriate
presentation time and place of study (84.2%), a suitable expression of study participants
(82.8%) and time duration of the study (82.3%).
Conclusion: The adherence to the various items of CONSORT checklist in Iranian Persian language
journals was not in satisfactory status. In this regard, the CONSORT checklist needs to be
carefully followed for conducting and reporting RCTs by Iranian researchers.