BACKGROUND: Dermatologic surgery is a fruitful research area that has spawned numerous randomized control trials (RCTs). OBJECTIVE: To assess the quality of reporting of randomization, blinding, sample size, and power analysis in RCTs published in the journal Dermatologic Surgery. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Randomized control trials published in Dermatologic Surgery between 1995 and 2012 were assessed regarding the quality of trial reporting. Data extraction performed independently by 2 data extractors. RESULTS: Dramatic increases in the numbers of RCTs in dermatologic surgery were noted in successive 5-year periods, from 39 in 1995 to 1999 to 66 in 2000 to 2004 and 131 in 2005 to 2009. The median Jadad score for articles from 1995 to 1999 was 1 and was 2 for articles since 2000. Subjects per study were 20 during 1995 to 1999, 25.5 from 2000 to 2004, and over 30 since 2005. Power analysis with sample size determination was reported in 0 articles during 1995 to 1999; greater than 13% of articles since 2005. Alpha level was specified for 37% of RCTs from 1995 to 1999 and 64% to 70% since 2005. CONCLUSION: During the last 20 years, the number of RCTs in Dermatologic Surgery has grown rapidly, almost doubling every 5 years, because the number of subjects per study has also increased and the quality of reporting has significantly improved.
BACKGROUND: Dermatologic surgery is a fruitful research area that has spawned numerous randomized control trials (RCTs). OBJECTIVE: To assess the quality of reporting of randomization, blinding, sample size, and power analysis in RCTs published in the journal Dermatologic Surgery. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Randomized control trials published in Dermatologic Surgery between 1995 and 2012 were assessed regarding the quality of trial reporting. Data extraction performed independently by 2 data extractors. RESULTS: Dramatic increases in the numbers of RCTs in dermatologic surgery were noted in successive 5-year periods, from 39 in 1995 to 1999 to 66 in 2000 to 2004 and 131 in 2005 to 2009. The median Jadad score for articles from 1995 to 1999 was 1 and was 2 for articles since 2000. Subjects per study were 20 during 1995 to 1999, 25.5 from 2000 to 2004, and over 30 since 2005. Power analysis with sample size determination was reported in 0 articles during 1995 to 1999; greater than 13% of articles since 2005. Alpha level was specified for 37% of RCTs from 1995 to 1999 and 64% to 70% since 2005. CONCLUSION: During the last 20 years, the number of RCTs in Dermatologic Surgery has grown rapidly, almost doubling every 5 years, because the number of subjects per study has also increased and the quality of reporting has significantly improved.