Table 1 Examples of the objectives of research using CSR data

Assessment of reporting and evaluation of bias

Methods, results (aggregate summary tables and text), narratives, participant listings

Eyding et al [4], Schroll et al [9], Hodkinson et al [10], Jefferson et al [11], Vedula et al [15]

Comparison of methods and/or results (including adverse events) with data registries or manuscripts

Methods, results (aggregate summary tables and text)

Eyding et al [4], Le Noury et al [8], Schroll et al [9], Hodkinson et al [10], Jefferson et al [11], Maund et al [12,13,14], Vedula et al [15], Nevitt et al [16]

Detailed evaluation of harms and adverse events

Results (aggregate summary tables and text), narratives, participant listings

Eyding et al [4], Maund et al [12,13,14]

Systematic review and meta-analysis (evidence synthesis)

Methods, results (aggregate summary tables and text), narratives

Eyding et al [4], Jefferson et al [11],

Maund et al [14], Nevitt et al [16]

Re-analysis (repeating original analysis)

Methods, results (aggregate summary tables and text), narratives, participant listings

Le Noury et al [8] (also using individual participant data)^a

Re-analysis (different method or objective to the original analysis)

Methods, results (aggregate summary tables and text), narratives, participant listings

Maund et al [14], Nevitt et al [16]