The need to improve reporting of routinely collected dermatology data for patient benefit

Defining Benchmarks for Transthoracic Esophagectomy

“…On the other hand, there are concerns that the evidence provided by large national databases, audits, and meta-analyses may be biased by the heterogeneity of target populations and procedures performed. 17,18 Often, the spectrum of inclusion criteria is kept rather large to increase sample sizes and no risk adjustment of cases is performed. For example, a profiling algorithm may ascribe a superior performance rank to surgeon A due to an inferior mortality rate compared with surgeon B.…”

How well are reporting guidelines and trial registration used by dermatology journals to limit bias? A meta-epidemiological study

“…Because evidence-based medicine has become a staple for clinical decision making, trial registration and reporting of trial results must become a priority in dermatological research. 6 In our study, journals that had trial registration policies demonstrated significantly higher reporting of registration (72%) than those with no mentioned policies (38%). Our findings suggest that prospective trial registration reporting, and also the transparency of dermatological research, would increase if all dermatology journals established policies requiring trial registry reporting.…”

“…Trial registration has been described as ‘the single most valuable tool we have to ensure unbiased reporting’, which is imperative to provide clinicians and patients the best treatment options. Because evidence‐based medicine has become a staple for clinical decision making, trial registration and reporting of trial results must become a priority in dermatological research . In our study, journals that had trial registration policies demonstrated significantly higher reporting of registration (72%) than those with no mentioned policies (38%).…”

“…Furthermore, some have claimed that poorly reported dermatological randomized controlled trials (RCTs) have ‘failed patients’, adding that reporting of results of dermatological RCTs is ‘woefully inadequate’ . Because many journals do not require adherence to reporting guidelines, pertinent information is often omitted from published reports . To address these inadequacies, reporting guidelines have been developed to improve the quality of reporting in medical research.…”

“…5 Because many journals do not require adherence to reporting guidelines, pertinent information is often omitted from published reports. 6 To address these inadequacies, reporting guidelines have been developed to improve the quality of reporting in medical research. In a study published in the British Journal of Dermatology, reporting quality significantly increased following the adoption of CONSORT requirement in selected dermatology journals.…”