Journal of clinical epidemiology
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Review Meta Analysis
The account for provider and center effects in multicenter interventional and surgical randomized controlled trials is in need of improvement: a review.
To systematically review the account of center and provider effects in large surgical and interventional randomized controlled trials. ⋯ Only few trials account for center or provider effect in the design and analysis. Authors and journal editors could play an important role in improving the reporting of trials.
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The aim was to evaluate papers retracted due to falsification in high-impact journals. ⋯ Retractions due to falsification can take a long time, especially when senior researchers are implicated. Fraudulent articles are not obviously distinguishable from nonfraudulent ones.
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To assess the psychometric properties of the short-form chronic respiratory disease questionnaire (SF-CRQ) as a quality-of-life (QOL) instrument in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) exacerbations. ⋯ SF-CRQ is a valid, reliable, and responsive instrument for the assessment of short-term QOL change in patients with COPD exacerbations.
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Much of biomedical research is observational. The reporting of such research is often inadequate, which hampers the assessment of its strengths and weaknesses and of a study's generalizability. The Strengthening the Reporting of Observational Studies in Epidemiology (STROBE) Initiative developed recommendations on what should be included in an accurate and complete report of an observational study. ⋯ Eighteen items are common to all three study designs and four are specific for cohort, case-control, or cross-sectional studies. A detailed Explanation and Elaboration document is published separately and is freely available on the web sites of PLoS Medicine, Annals of Internal Medicine, and Epidemiology. We hope that the STROBE Statement will contribute to improving the quality of reporting of observational studies.
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Review Meta Analysis
A systematic review finds methodological improvements necessary for prognostic models in determining traumatic brain injury outcomes.
To describe the modeling techniques used for early prediction of outcome in traumatic brain injury (TBI) and to identify aspects for potential improvements. ⋯ Although most models agree on the three most important predictors, many were developed on small sample sizes within single centers and hence lack generalizability. Modeling strategies have to be improved, and include external validation.