Number of Published Randomized Controlled Multi Center Trials Testing Pharmacological Interventions or Devices Is Increasing in Both Medical and Surgical Specialties

TY - JOUR

T1 - Number of Published Randomized Controlled Multi Center Trials Testing Pharmacological Interventions or Devices Is Increasing in Both Medical and Surgical Specialties

AU - Danielsen, Anne Kjaergaard

AU - Okholm, Cecilie

AU - Pommergaard, Hans-Christian

AU - Burcharth, Jakob

AU - Rosenberg, Jacob

PY - 2014/7/14

Y1 - 2014/7/14

N2 - BACKGROUND: In general, there is a need for testing new interventions in large randomized controlled trials. Depending on the research question it may be advantageous to establish multicenter studies as a way of organizing clinical trials in order to increase study power.MAIN OBJECTIVES: The object of this study was to investigate the development in the organization of multicenter studies, the distribution of studies within different clinical specialties, across continents, and investigate the differences related to testing various interventions.METHODS AND MATERIALS: A literature search was done in MEDLINE for multicenter studies published in 1995, 2000, 2005, and 2010, respectively. Data extraction identified data related to clinical specialties, interventions, participating patients, departments, countries, and continents.RESULTS: The number of multicenter studies increased from 112 in 1995 to 1,273 in 2010, with a larger share of multicenter studies being performed in Europe and North America. The pharmacological interventions were primarily being tested in medical studies followed by the device tests predominantly in surgical studies. The number of included patients as well as the number of participating departments increased during the time span, though the increase in studies was most evident in Europe and North America compared with the rest of the world.

AB - BACKGROUND: In general, there is a need for testing new interventions in large randomized controlled trials. Depending on the research question it may be advantageous to establish multicenter studies as a way of organizing clinical trials in order to increase study power.MAIN OBJECTIVES: The object of this study was to investigate the development in the organization of multicenter studies, the distribution of studies within different clinical specialties, across continents, and investigate the differences related to testing various interventions.METHODS AND MATERIALS: A literature search was done in MEDLINE for multicenter studies published in 1995, 2000, 2005, and 2010, respectively. Data extraction identified data related to clinical specialties, interventions, participating patients, departments, countries, and continents.RESULTS: The number of multicenter studies increased from 112 in 1995 to 1,273 in 2010, with a larger share of multicenter studies being performed in Europe and North America. The pharmacological interventions were primarily being tested in medical studies followed by the device tests predominantly in surgical studies. The number of included patients as well as the number of participating departments increased during the time span, though the increase in studies was most evident in Europe and North America compared with the rest of the world.

U2 - 10.1371/journal.pone.0101383

DO - 10.1371/journal.pone.0101383

M3 - Journal article

C2 - 25020129

SN - 1932-6203

VL - 9

SP - 1

EP - 7

JO - PLoS Computational Biology

JF - PLoS Computational Biology

IS - 7

M1 - e101383

ER -