Article type
Year
Abstract
Objective: To provide more high quality Chinese clinical trials for Cochrane systematic review and to improve the reporting quality of Chinese clinical trials by involving the leadership and chief editors of leading Chinese Medical Journals (CMJs) in Cochrane Collaboration (CC).
Methods: A seminar of CC and evidence-based medicine (EBM) for chief editors of leading CMJs was held at Chinese Cochrane Center (ChiCC) from April 27-28, 2000, aimed at discussing the relationship of EBM and CC with CMJs, the common problems in published Chinese literature, and the strategies to improve the quality of CMJs. A questionnaire was distributed to all the editors for collecting their awareness of EBM and CC, their planning contribution, suggestion and advice to promote the development of EBM and CC in China.
Results: 50 questionnaires were collected. (1) Among, 47 is aware of the important relationship of EBM and CC with quality of CMJs, and 48 is aware of publication bias and 33 multiple publication in CMJs. (2) Key problems in Chinese clinical trials include: randomized controlled trial was not appropriately and broadly used, as it should be; statistical method was not selected correctly based on data; subjects loss of follow-up were not given reasons and appropriate statistical handling; the details of randomization, concealment, blinding, baseline characteristics and sample size calculation were not described. The reasons of above problems are mainly attributed to the lack of knowledge of research methodology, statistical skills of researchers, peer-reviewers and editors, and limitation of length of journals. (3)
Strategies: to enhance the bilateral communication of CMJs and ChiCC, to train editors, peer-reviewers and especially researchers with research methodology, statistical methods, to create columns in CMJs for disseminating knowledge of EBM, CC and clinical epidemiology, to invite experts of ChiCC as editors and peer-reviewers, to assess the quality of published papers regularly and to provide feedback to editors of CMJs, to open course of EBM, CC and clinical epidemiology for medical students and health professionals as continuing medical education, to develop "essential lists "for editors and peer-reviewers. Conclusion: Although researchers are the core of quality of medical literature, it is especially important to involve editors of CMJs as the defender of "final line "in order to provide best research evidence for EBM and more high quality clinical trials for Cochrane systematic reviews.
Methods: A seminar of CC and evidence-based medicine (EBM) for chief editors of leading CMJs was held at Chinese Cochrane Center (ChiCC) from April 27-28, 2000, aimed at discussing the relationship of EBM and CC with CMJs, the common problems in published Chinese literature, and the strategies to improve the quality of CMJs. A questionnaire was distributed to all the editors for collecting their awareness of EBM and CC, their planning contribution, suggestion and advice to promote the development of EBM and CC in China.
Results: 50 questionnaires were collected. (1) Among, 47 is aware of the important relationship of EBM and CC with quality of CMJs, and 48 is aware of publication bias and 33 multiple publication in CMJs. (2) Key problems in Chinese clinical trials include: randomized controlled trial was not appropriately and broadly used, as it should be; statistical method was not selected correctly based on data; subjects loss of follow-up were not given reasons and appropriate statistical handling; the details of randomization, concealment, blinding, baseline characteristics and sample size calculation were not described. The reasons of above problems are mainly attributed to the lack of knowledge of research methodology, statistical skills of researchers, peer-reviewers and editors, and limitation of length of journals. (3)
Strategies: to enhance the bilateral communication of CMJs and ChiCC, to train editors, peer-reviewers and especially researchers with research methodology, statistical methods, to create columns in CMJs for disseminating knowledge of EBM, CC and clinical epidemiology, to invite experts of ChiCC as editors and peer-reviewers, to assess the quality of published papers regularly and to provide feedback to editors of CMJs, to open course of EBM, CC and clinical epidemiology for medical students and health professionals as continuing medical education, to develop "essential lists "for editors and peer-reviewers. Conclusion: Although researchers are the core of quality of medical literature, it is especially important to involve editors of CMJs as the defender of "final line "in order to provide best research evidence for EBM and more high quality clinical trials for Cochrane systematic reviews.