Amanda McIntyre1, Brooke Benton2, Shannon Janzen2, Jerome Iruthayarajah2, Joshua Wiener2, Janice J Eng3, Robert Teasell2,4,5. 1. Lawson Health Research Institute, St. Joseph's Parkwood Institute, London, Ontario, Canada. Amanda.McIntyre@sjhc.london.on.ca. 2. Lawson Health Research Institute, St. Joseph's Parkwood Institute, London, Ontario, Canada. 3. Department of Physical Therapy, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada. 4. St. Joseph's Health Care, St. Joseph's Parkwood Institute, London, Ontario, Canada. 5. Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Western University, London, Ontario, Canada.
Abstract
STUDY DESIGN: Mapping Review. OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to map out and characterize the quantity and quality of all published spinal cord injury (SCI) randomized controlled trials (RCTs) with respect to number, sample size, and methodological quality between January 1970 and December 2016. SETTING: Not applicable. METHODS: A literature search of multiple research databases was conducted. Studies adhering to the following criteria were included: the research design was an RCT; written in English; participants were >18 years; and the sample was >50% SCI. Data were extracted pertaining to author(s), year of publication, country of origin, initial and final sample size, intervention, and control. Methodological quality was assessed using the Physiotherapy Evidence Database (PEDro) tool. Data was assessed overall and by each year of publication. RESULTS: In total, 466 RCTs were published 1971-2016 on 29 primary topic areas, with Bladder (n = 78, 16.7%) most common, followed by Pain (n = 54, 11.6%), and Lower Limb (n = 45, 9.7%). Studies were published in 172 unique journals, with the most common being Spinal Cord (n = 68, 14.6%). The most common producer of studies was the United States (n = 191, 41.0%). RCT publications increased linearly until 2012 when the rate tripled, resulting in 40.8% published 2012-2016. A total of 247 (59.4%) RCTs had <30 subjects; there was no change in sample size over time (p = 0.770). The overall mean PEDro score was 5.56 (1.68); scores improved from 5.0 (1.4) in 1976 to 6.3 (1.9) in 2016 (F = 2.230, p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: The number of SCI RCTs and their associated sample size remains low; however, methodological quality has improved over time.
STUDY DESIGN: Mapping Review. OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to map out and characterize the quantity and quality of all published spinal cord injury (SCI) randomized controlled trials (RCTs) with respect to number, sample size, and methodological quality between January 1970 and December 2016. SETTING: Not applicable. METHODS: A literature search of multiple research databases was conducted. Studies adhering to the following criteria were included: the research design was an RCT; written in English; participants were >18 years; and the sample was >50% SCI. Data were extracted pertaining to author(s), year of publication, country of origin, initial and final sample size, intervention, and control. Methodological quality was assessed using the Physiotherapy Evidence Database (PEDro) tool. Data was assessed overall and by each year of publication. RESULTS: In total, 466 RCTs were published 1971-2016 on 29 primary topic areas, with Bladder (n = 78, 16.7%) most common, followed by Pain (n = 54, 11.6%), and Lower Limb (n = 45, 9.7%). Studies were published in 172 unique journals, with the most common being Spinal Cord (n = 68, 14.6%). The most common producer of studies was the United States (n = 191, 41.0%). RCT publications increased linearly until 2012 when the rate tripled, resulting in 40.8% published 2012-2016. A total of 247 (59.4%) RCTs had <30 subjects; there was no change in sample size over time (p = 0.770). The overall mean PEDro score was 5.56 (1.68); scores improved from 5.0 (1.4) in 1976 to 6.3 (1.9) in 2016 (F = 2.230, p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: The number of SCI RCTs and their associated sample size remains low; however, methodological quality has improved over time.
Authors: P J Devereaux; Peter T-L Choi; Samer El-Dika; Mohit Bhandari; Victor M Montori; Holger J Schünemann; Amit X Garg; Jason W Busse; Diane Heels-Ansdell; William A Ghali; Braden J Manns; Gordon H Guyatt Journal: J Clin Epidemiol Date: 2004-12 Impact factor: 6.437
Authors: Adrían V Hernández; Ewout W Steyerberg; Gillian S Taylor; Anthony Marmarou; J Dik F Habbema; Andrew I R Maas Journal: Neurosurgery Date: 2005-12 Impact factor: 4.654
Authors: Lesley Wood; Matthias Egger; Lise Lotte Gluud; Kenneth F Schulz; Peter Jüni; Douglas G Altman; Christian Gluud; Richard M Martin; Anthony J G Wood; Jonathan A C Sterne Journal: BMJ Date: 2008-03-03
Authors: D Lammertse; M H Tuszynski; J D Steeves; A Curt; J W Fawcett; C Rask; J F Ditunno; M G Fehlings; J D Guest; P H Ellaway; N Kleitman; A R Blight; B H Dobkin; R Grossman; H Katoh; A Privat; M Kalichman Journal: Spinal Cord Date: 2006-12-19 Impact factor: 2.772