AimsTo assess the reporting quality of recently published randomized controlled trial (RCT) abstracts in Endodontics, to investigate factors associated with reporting quality, and to evaluate the existence and characteristics of spin, that is using reporting strategies that distort study results and misguide readers.MethodologyThe PubMed database was searched to identify abstracts of RCTs in the field of Endodontics published during 2017 to 2018. Two authors assessed the reporting quality of each included abstract using the original 16‐item CONSORT for Abstracts checklist, with the overall quality score (OQS, range: 0–16) being the primary outcome measure. For each individual item, a score of ‘1’ was given if it was described adequately, and ‘0’ if the description was inadequate. Linear regression analyses were conducted to identify factors associated with reporting quality. For the evaluation of spin, two authors selected parallel‐group RCTs with a nonsignificant primary outcome from the included abstracts and evaluated independently the existence and characteristics of spin amongst these abstracts.ResultsA total of 162 abstracts were included for assessment of reporting, for which the mean OQS was 3.97 (SD, 1.30; 95 % CI, 3.77–4.17). According to multivariable analysis, origin from Europe (P = 0.001) and reporting of the exact P value (P = 0.020) were significantly associated with better reporting. Forty abstracts with statistically nonsignificant results for their primary outcome were included for spin evaluation, amongst which 34 (85.0%) had at least one type of spin. Thirty‐two abstracts (94.1%) had spin in their conclusions section, and six abstracts (17.6%) had spin in the results section.ConclusionsThe reporting quality of randomized controlled trials abstracts in Endodontics needs to be improved. The occurrence rate of spin in the sample of abstracts of RCTs in the field of Endodontics was high. Relevant stakeholders are recommended to be familiar with the CONSORT for Abstracts guideline and develop active strategies to ensure its implementation.

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Summary Objectives To identify the presence and characteristics of spin (using reporting strategies to distort study results and mislead readers) within randomized controlled trial (RCT) abstracts published in orthodontic journals, and to explore the association between spin and potentially related factors. Methods A manual search was conducted to identify abstracts of RCTs with statistically non-significant primary outcomes published in five leading orthodontic journals between 2015 and 2020. Spin in the Results and Conclusions sections of each included abstract was evaluated and categorized according to pre-determined spin strategies. Logistic regression analyses were employed to explore the association between spin and relevant factors. Results A total of 111 RCT abstracts were included, of which 69 (62.2 per cent) were identified with spin. In the Results section, 47 (42.3 per cent) abstracts had spin, and ‘focusing on significant within-group comparison for primary outcomes’ was the most frequent spin strategy. In the Conclusions section, 57 (51.4 per cent) abstracts presented spin, with the most common strategy being ‘claiming equivalence or non-inferiority for statistically nonsignificant results’. According to multivariable logistic regression analysis, a significantly lower presence of spin was found in studies with international collaboration (odds ratio [OR]: 0.331, 95 per cent confidence interval [CI]: 0.120–0.912, P = 0.033) and trial registration (OR: 0.336, 95 per cent CI: 0.117–0.962, P = 0.042). Conclusion The prevalence of spin is high among RCT abstracts in orthodontics. Clinicians need to be aware of the definition and presence of spin. Concerted efforts are needed from researchers and other stakeholders to address this issue.

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