Critical appraisal of reporting randomized clinical trials published in Iranian dental journals during 2003-2010

Raha Habib Agahi; Nader Navabi; Arash Shahravan; Amirreza Ghassemi

Critical appraisal of reporting randomized clinical trials published in Iranian dental journals during 2003-2010

J Dent (Tehran). 2014 May;11(3):310-8. Epub 2014 May 31.

Authors

Raha Habib Agahi¹, Nader Navabi², Arash Shahravan³, Amirreza Ghassemi¹

Affiliations

¹ Dentist, Private Practice, Department of Oral Medicine, Kerman Dental School, Kerman University of Medical Sciences.
² Assistant Professor, Department of Oral Medicine, Kerman Dental School, Kerman University of Medical Sciences.
³ Associated Professor, Kerman Oral and Dental Research Centre, Kerman University of Medical Sciences.

PMID: 25628666
PMCID: PMC4290759

Abstract

Objective: Considering the importance of randomized clinical trials (RCTs) in the evidence-based approach, the objective of this study was critical appraisal of reporting RCTs in Iranian dental journals.

Materials and methods: After adequate searching, 113 RCT articles published during 2003-2010 were reviewed for quality of reporting with the CONSORT scale. The quality of each paper was assessed on 20.

Results: Although statistical analysis was described in 93.8%, acceptable methods for randomization and blinding were found in only 8% and 11.5% of the papers, respectively. Reasons for withdrawal were also given in just 20.4% of the articles.

Conclusion: This study revealed that the quality of reporting RCTs in Iranian dental journals does not meet the recommended standards generally and needs to be improved.

Keywords: Dentistry; Iran; Randomized Clinical Trials.