Article type
Abstract
Background: The progressive aging of the world population underscores the importance of research specifically focused on the needs of the elderly. Having access to the available evidence in Geriatrics, specifically controlled clinical trials (CCT), is hampered by the limitations of electronic searches. The implementation of a handsearching approach is therefore an invaluable complement.
Objectives: To identify, describe and evaluate the quality of CCTs published in Geriatrics journals in Spain and Latin America. To submit the corresponding references to CENTRAL.
Methods: Geriatrics journals published in Spain and Latin America in Spanish language were eligible. We handsearched each journal following the Cochrane Collaboration guidelines. We extracted data on characteristics of patients, researched health issues and interventions, main outcomes, and setting, among others. We also assessed the risk of bias associated with this body of evidence.
Results: A total of 17 Geriatric journals, most of them published in Spain and not indexed in the major literature databases, were handsearched from December 2016 until their inception. A total of 75 CCTs were identified and submitted to CENTRAL. We will present the main characteristics of these CCTs and the results of the risk-of-bias assessment at the Summit.
Conclusions: The number of CCTs published in Geriatrics journals in Spain and Latin America is low. In general, the identified studies present a high risk of bias. Most CCTs identified in this project would not have been retrieved using electronic search strategies.
Objectives: To identify, describe and evaluate the quality of CCTs published in Geriatrics journals in Spain and Latin America. To submit the corresponding references to CENTRAL.
Methods: Geriatrics journals published in Spain and Latin America in Spanish language were eligible. We handsearched each journal following the Cochrane Collaboration guidelines. We extracted data on characteristics of patients, researched health issues and interventions, main outcomes, and setting, among others. We also assessed the risk of bias associated with this body of evidence.
Results: A total of 17 Geriatric journals, most of them published in Spain and not indexed in the major literature databases, were handsearched from December 2016 until their inception. A total of 75 CCTs were identified and submitted to CENTRAL. We will present the main characteristics of these CCTs and the results of the risk-of-bias assessment at the Summit.
Conclusions: The number of CCTs published in Geriatrics journals in Spain and Latin America is low. In general, the identified studies present a high risk of bias. Most CCTs identified in this project would not have been retrieved using electronic search strategies.