Using a Systematic Review in Clinical Decision Making: a Pilot Parallel, Randomized Controlled Trial

University of Toronto56 enrolled

Overview

The purpose of this pilot study is to determine the feasibility of running a full-scale trial that compares two formats of a shortened systematic review to a full-length systematic review to be used in clinical decision-making.

Two shortened systematic review formats were developed to enhance their use in clinical decision making. An online randomized controlled trial is planned to make comparisons of the shortened formats to a full-length systematic review. To prepare for the full-scale trial, a pilot study will be conducted to test methods and procedures in order to refine the processes.

Study Type

INTERVENTIONAL

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Purpose

HEALTH_SERVICES_RESEARCH

Masking

SINGLE

Enrollment

Conditions

Evidence-Based Medicine

Interventions

Shortened FormatOTHER

Shortened format of a systematic review

Full LengthOTHER

Full length systematic review

Eligibility

Sex: ALLHealthy volunteers:

Medical Language ↔ Plain English

Inclusion Criteria: * Physicians who were in practice full- or part-time at study enrollment were recruited for participation * Participants had to have access to the Internet as the study was conducted online. Exclusion Criteria: * The systematic reviews in all formats were only available in English, thus any participants who were not able to read and understand English were not eligible to participate. * Anyone who had taken part in any phase of the development of the shortened versions of the systematic reviews (cased-based or evidence-expertise formats) were not eligible for recruitment.

Outcomes

Primary Outcomes

Assessment of participant's answers measured using a kappa statistic

Feasibility of assessing participants' answers

Time frame: 6 months

Rate of recruitment

Feasibility of recruiting participants in a timely manner

Time frame: 6 months

Data from ClinicalTrials.gov

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