Table 3 Types of outcomes measured as primary endpoints in test-treatment RCTs
Outcome Type | Trials, n | (%) | aOutcome measurements, n | (%) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Patient | ||||
 Symptom score | 13 | (25) | 14 | (9) |
 Adverse events | 8 | (15) | 15 | (10) |
 Function | 8 | (15) | 11 | (7) |
 Quality of life | 5 | (9) | 17 | (11) |
 Mortality | 4 | (8) | 4 | (3) |
 Health perception | 2 | (4) | 5 | (3) |
 Psychological morbidity | 2 | (4) | 6 | (4) |
 Absenteeism | 1 | (2) | 1 | (1) |
 Clinical status | 9 | (17) | 9 | (6) |
 Residual disease rate | 7 | (13) | 7 | (5) |
 Recurrent disease rate | 6 | (11) | 7 | (5) |
 Patient outcome total | 53 | (54) | 96 | (64) |
Process | ||||
 Therapeutic yield | 17 | (45) | 20 | (13) |
 Timing of care | 8 | (21) | 8 | (5) |
 Cost | 7 | (18) | 7 | (5) |
 Appropriateness of treatment decision | 5 | (13) | 6 | (4) |
 Diagnostic yield | 4 | (11) | 5 | (3) |
 Process outcome total | 38 | (39) | 46 | (31) |
Composite outcome | ||||
 Adverse patient and process event rate | 7 | (7) | 7 | (5) |
Primary outcome not defined | 6 | (6) | 0 | (0) |
Total | 103 | (100) | 149 | (100) |