Table 1 Characteristics of included RCT abstracts. (N = 182)
From: Abstracts of randomized controlled trials in pediatric dentistry: reporting quality and spin
Characteristic | Category | N (%) |
|---|---|---|
Journal | EJPD | 22 (12.1) |
IJPD | 31 (17.0) | |
JOCPD | 37 (20.3) | |
PD | 50 (27.5) | |
EAPD | 42 (23.1) | |
Year | 2015 | 28 (15.4) |
2016 | 29 (15.9) | |
2017 | 26 (14.3) | |
2018 | 26 (14.3) | |
2019 | 23 (12.6) | |
2020 | 24 (13.2) | |
2021 | 26 (14.3) | |
Continent | North America | 13 (7.2) |
South America | 25 (13.7) | |
Europe | 28 (15.4) | |
Asia | 104 (57.1) | |
Africa | 12 (6.6) | |
Abstract word count |  < 200 | 64 (35.2) |
200–250 | 91 (50.0) | |
 > 250 | 27 (14.8) | |
No. of authors |  < 4 | 53 (29.1) |
4–7 | 117 (64.3) | |
 > 7 | 12 (6.6) | |
Sample size |  < 50 | 69 (37.9) |
50–100 | 71 (39.0) | |
 > 100 | 42 (23.1) | |
Treatment arms | 2 | 132 (72.6) |
3 | 31 (17.0) | |
 > 3 | 19 (10.4) | |
Multi-center | Yes | 9 (4.9) |
No | 173 (95.1) | |
Multiple affiliations | Yes | 25 (13.7) |
No | 157 (86.3) | |
Statistician involvement | Yes | 22 (12.1) |
No | 160 (87.9) | |
Reported use of CONSORT | Yes | 40 (22.0) |
No | 142 (78.0) | |
Use of flow diagram | Yes | 104 (57.1) |
No | 78 (42.9) | |
Exact P-value | Yes | 74 (40.7) |
No | 108 (59.3) | |
Funding status | Funded by industry | 8 (4.4) |
Funded by other sources | 44 (24.2) | |
Unfunded or unreported | 130 (71.4) | |
Total | Â | 182 (100.0) |