Reporting and interpretation of randomized controlled trials with statistically nonsignificant results for primary outcomes.

Journal article

CONTEXT: Previous studies indicate that the interpretation of trial results can be distorted by authors of published reports. OBJECTIVE: To identify the nature and frequency of distorted presentation or "spin" (ie, specific reporting strategies, whatever their motive, to highlight that the experimental treatment is beneficial, despite a statistically nonsignificant difference for the primary outcome, or to distract the reader from statistically nonsignificant results) in published reports of ...

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Authors: Boutron, I; Dutton, S; Ravaud, P; Altman, D

• Publication status: Published
• Journal: JAMA
• Volume: 303
• Issue: 20
• Pages: 2058-2064
• Publication date: 2010-05-01
• DOI: 10.1001/jama.2010.651
• EISSN: 1538-3598
• ISSN: 0098-7484
• Language: English
• Keywords: Treatment Outcome; Publishing; Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; Bias (Epidemiology)