Journal of clinical epidemiology
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Systematic reviews (SRs) are time and resource intensive, requiring approximately 1 year from protocol registration to submission for publication. Our aim was to describe the process, facilitators, and barriers to completing the first 2-week full SR. ⋯ A small and experienced systematic reviewer team using Systematic Review Automation tools who have protected time to focus solely on the SR can complete a moderately sized SR in 2 weeks.
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To examine key methodological considerations for using a placebo intervention in randomized controlled trials (RCTs) evaluating invasive procedures, including surgery. ⋯ Most placebo-controlled trials in surgery evaluate minor surgical procedures and currently there is inconsistent reporting of key trial methods. There is a need for guidance to optimize the transparency of trial reporting in this area.
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Respondent-driven sampling (RDS) is an increasingly popular method of recruiting participants from hard-to-reach populations and has traditionally been used to estimate the prevalence of HIV among marginalized people. The STROBE-RDS guidelines were published in 2015 to improve the reporting of these studies. We aim to determine the current applications of RDS and the quality of reporting of these studies. ⋯ Most authors are using RDS appropriately and aware of the need for statistical adjustments to RDS data. Nonetheless, the STROBE-RDS guidelines should be more widely disseminated to promote better reporting of key aspects of RDS studies.
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To investigate whether comparing observed with expected P-value distributions for baseline continuous variables in randomized controlled trials (RCTs) might be limited by randomization methods, normality and correlation of variables, or calculation of P-values from rounded summary statistics. ⋯ Randomization methods, non-normality, and strength of correlation of baseline variables did not have important effects on baseline P-value distribution or AUC-CDF, but baseline P-values calculated from rounded summary statistics are non-uniformly distributed.
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Evidence-based medicine (EBM) has experienced numerous advances since its inception over 2 decades ago. Yet a persistent gulf remains between how medicine is actually practiced and the goal of providing care based on best available research evidence integrated with patient perspective and clinical expertise. A primary source of challenge for EBM is induced by inefficiencies in the generation, synthesis, and translation of evidence. ⋯ Based on the features of a natural ecosystem, the ecosystem of evidence is influenced by living organisms: stakeholders replete with competition and collaboration among and between them, as well as their conflicts of interest; the environment: social, cultural, economic, and/or political contexts; and nonliving components: scientific evidence, influenced by the rules, standards, and frameworks associated with evidence generation, synthesis, and translation. This article provides an analysis of the strengths and weaknesses of this ecosystem with a focus on nonliving components, specifically evidence generation, synthesis, and translation. Specific suggestions are outlined for building a stable and resilient ecosystem of evidence.