Shorter time publication of positive clinical trials, of large-scale or not industry-funded
Shorter time publication of positive clinical trials, of large-scale or not industry-funded
SOURCE
Showell MG, Cole S, Clarke MJ, DeVito NJ, Farquhar C, Jordan V. (2024)
Time to publication for results of clinical trials
Cochrane Database of Syst Rev, 11(11), MR000011.
URL : https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39601300/
CLINICAL QUESTION
One of the principles of good clinical practice is to ensure the integrity and accuracy of clinical data. This includes avoiding research waste by publishing results in peer-reviewed journals in a timely and impartial manner. If study publication is influenced by the direction or strength of the results, publication bias occurs. Furthermore, deliberate, unjustified, or undeclared omission of clinical trial data constitutes scientific misconduct.
BOTTOM LINE
What are the timeframes and factors influencing the publication of clinical trials, based on reports describing cohorts of interventional studies from study registration to publication ?
MAIN RESULTS
Approximately half of clinical trials are published, with a median time of around 2 years after study completion and 5 years from first patient enrollment. Trials reporting positive results are significantly more likely to be published and do so more rapidly than those with null or negative results. Trials with larger patient enrollment are more likely to be published and in a shorter time frame compared with smaller trials. Multicenter trials are more frequently published than single-center trials, although this does not appear to affect publication time. Trials funded by non-industry sources are published more often and more rapidly than those funded by industry.
CAVEATS
Due to the nature of this review, the GRADE classification could not be assessed. Additionally, the results show considerable heterogeneity due to differences in sources and populations. After excluding trials with a high risk of bias, the main results remain unchanged. The faster dissemination of positive trial results may inappropriately influence clinical practice. Only when researchers make their results accessible, regardless of study conclusions and in a timely manner, can publication bias be reduced.
AUTHORS
Marx
tania.marx@univ-fcomte.fr
Université de Franche-Comté, CHU Besançon, Urgences – SAMU, F-25000 Besançon, France
Jabre
Université Paris Cité, SAMU de Paris, CHU Necker-Enfants Malades, F-75730 Paris, France
