Association between framing of the research question using the PICOT format and reporting quality of randomized controlled trials

Table 3 Association between PICOT score and overall reporting quality

Independent Variable	Median	Q1-Q3	Multivariable Model			Univariate Models
	OQS^a		IRR	95% CI	p value	IRR	95% CI	p value
PICOT	9	8 - 10	1.021^b	1.012 - 1.029	< 0.0001	1.018	1.006 - 1.029	0.0032
Funding Source
Others^c	9	8 - 11	1	-	-	1	-	-
Completely funded by industry	10	9 - 10	1.022	0.999 - 1.046	0.0638	1.058	1.010 - 1.108	0.0177
Journal of Publication
Others^c	9	7 - 10	1	-	-	1	-	-
J Clin Endocrinol Metab	9	8 - 11	1.055	0.985 - 1.130	0.1280	1.074	0.986 - 1.171	0.1027
Sample Size	9	8 - 10	1.073^d	1.026 - 1.123	0.0020	1.095	1.011 - 1.185	0.0250

Abbreviations: OQS, Overall quality score; Q1, quartile 1; Q3, quartile 3; IRR, incidence rate ratio; 95% CI, 95% confidence interval; GEE, generalized estimating equations; RCTs, randomized controlled trials.
^a Maximum possible score = 14
^b The value is an expression of the change in the average of the OQS due to one unit increase in PICOT score.
^c Reference category
^d The sample size variable was log(10) transformed. The value is an expression of the change in the average of the OQS due to one unit increase in sample size in the log scale.

ISSN: 1471-2288