Article type
Year
Abstract
Background: The COMET Initiative developed an online resource to collate the knowledge base for core outcome set (COS) development. It will help authors present their findings clearly and succinctly in Cochrane Reviews, e.g. within the 'Summary of findings' table. Initial searches (2013) identified 198 COS in different areas of health. Ensuring that the database is as comprehensive as possible and keeping it up to date are key to its value for users.
Objectives: To:
1. identify studies published since the original search with the aim of determining which outcomes/domains to measure in all clinical trials in a specific condition;
2. assess website usage in 2014;
3. find out why people are using the database
Methods:
1. Searches in MEDLINE, SCOPUS;
2. Analyse website statistics (Google Analytics);
3. A pop-up survey to ask people their reason for searching the database.
Results: In January 2015 we searched databases and identified 4980 potentially relevant abstracts. Screening is ongoing to identify the final set of included studies (expected completion April 2015). These results will be compared with the original review to identify any changes in COS development and reporting. Use of the website continues to increase, with more than 16500 visits in 2014 (36% increase over 2013), 12257 unique visitors (47% increase) and 9780 new visitors (43% increase). There has been a rise in the proportion of visits from outside the UK: 8565 visits in 2014 (51% of all visits). By December 2014, a total of 6588 searches had been completed, with 2383 in 2014 alone (11% increase). Pop-up survey is on-going and includes ‘I am planning a systematic review of clinical trials’ as a response option.
Conclusions: These updates will bring the database of COS up to date, improving its value for users. It will also highlight clinical areas where gaps exist, providing opportunities for future COS development. We will continue to include studies in an ad-hoc way, until the next update, ensuring that the database is as current as possible. The pop-up survey will provide valuable insight into why people search the database, which will also enable us to improve its value for users.
Objectives: To:
1. identify studies published since the original search with the aim of determining which outcomes/domains to measure in all clinical trials in a specific condition;
2. assess website usage in 2014;
3. find out why people are using the database
Methods:
1. Searches in MEDLINE, SCOPUS;
2. Analyse website statistics (Google Analytics);
3. A pop-up survey to ask people their reason for searching the database.
Results: In January 2015 we searched databases and identified 4980 potentially relevant abstracts. Screening is ongoing to identify the final set of included studies (expected completion April 2015). These results will be compared with the original review to identify any changes in COS development and reporting. Use of the website continues to increase, with more than 16500 visits in 2014 (36% increase over 2013), 12257 unique visitors (47% increase) and 9780 new visitors (43% increase). There has been a rise in the proportion of visits from outside the UK: 8565 visits in 2014 (51% of all visits). By December 2014, a total of 6588 searches had been completed, with 2383 in 2014 alone (11% increase). Pop-up survey is on-going and includes ‘I am planning a systematic review of clinical trials’ as a response option.
Conclusions: These updates will bring the database of COS up to date, improving its value for users. It will also highlight clinical areas where gaps exist, providing opportunities for future COS development. We will continue to include studies in an ad-hoc way, until the next update, ensuring that the database is as current as possible. The pop-up survey will provide valuable insight into why people search the database, which will also enable us to improve its value for users.