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Table 2 Characteristics of included trials

From: Research waste in diagnostic trials: a methods review evaluating the reporting of test-treatment interventions

Trial characteristics

Total (N = 103)

2004–5 (N = 56)

2006–7 (N = 47)

n

(%)

n

(%)

n

(%)

Trial design:

 Parallel

90

(87)

49

(89)

41

(87)

 Factorial

3

(3)

2

(4)

1

(2)

 Cross-over

1

(1)

0

(−)

1

(2)

 Randomized disclosure

9

(9)

5

(7)

4

(9)

Randomization:

 Individual

97

(94)

53

(96)

44

(92)

 Cluster

6

(6)

2

(4)

4

(8)

Number of study arms:

 2

92

(89)

50

(91)

42

(88)

  > 2

11

(11)

5

(9)

6

(13)

Diagnostic comparison:

 Triage

17

(17)

9

(16)

8

(17)

 Additional

28

(27)

15

(27)

13

(27)

 Replacement

60

(58)

32

(57)

28

(58)

Medical Specialty:

 Cardiovascular Medicine

35

(34)

20

(36)

15

(31)

 Embryology

2

(2)

0

(−)

2

(4)

 Emergency Medicine

1

(1)

0

(−)

1

(2)

 Gastroenterology

14

(14)

6

(11)

8

(17)

 General Medicine

1

(1)

0

(−)

1

(2)

 Geriatrics

1

(1)

1

(2)

0

(−)

 Infectious diseases

1

(1)

1

(2)

0

(−)

 Neurology

3

(3)

1

(2)

2

(4)

 Obstetrics and Gynecology

17

(17)

6

(11)

11

(23)

 Oncology

5

(5)

5

(9)

0

(−)

 Ophthalmology

2

(2)

2

(4)

0

(−)

 Orthopedics

10

(10)

8

(15)

2

(4)

 Otolaryngology

1

(1)

1

(2)

0

(−)

 Psychiatry

2

(2)

0

(−)

2

(4)

 Respiratory

3

(3)

1

(2)

2

(4)

 Urology

2

(2)

1

(2)

1

(2)

 Multiple

3

(3)

3

(5)

0

(−)