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Table 3 Association between quality of methodology reporting, structure formats and potential confounders - Univariable and multivariable generalised estimation equation (GEE) derived coefficients (B) and 95% confidence intervals, with overall quality score (OQS) as the dependent variable and journal as the grouping factor (n = 341 abstracts from 33 journals)

From: Structure formats of randomised controlled trial abstracts: a cross-sectional analysis of their current usage and association with methodology reporting

  

Univariable

Multivariableb

Explanatory variables

Category/unit

B

95% CI

P value

QICCa

B

95% CI

P value

Structure format

IMRaD

Reference

   

Reference

  

HS

0.66

(0.15, 1.16)

0.011

620.2

0.54

(0.06, 1.03)

0.028

Journal type

General

Reference

      
 

Specialty

−0.30

(−0.86, 0.25)

0.285

650.3

   

Continent

   

0.838

651.0

   
 

Europe

Reference

      
 

North America

−0.16

(−0.55, 0.22)

0.408

    
 

Asia

−0.28

(−0.86, 0.31)

0.353

    
 

Oceania

0.20

(−0.63, 1.03)

0.638

    
 

Others

−0.23

(−1.29, 0.84)

0.677

    

Publication year

1 year

0.09

(−0.06, 0.25)

0.224

652.7

   

No. of centres

Single centre

Reference

   

Reference

  
 

Multi-centre

0.42

(0.16, 0.68)

0.002

623.9

0.36

(0.08, 0.64)

0.013

Funded

No

Reference

   

Reference

  
 

Yes

0.69

(0.39, 0.99)

<0.001

625.5

0.57

(0.24, 0.90)

0.001

  1. IMRaD Introduction, methods, results, and discussion format, HS Highly structured format
  2. aQICC, Corrected quasi likelihood under independence model criterion
  3. bFor the final multivariable model, intercept = 3.437, QICC = 580.3