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Table 1 Description of overall quality of reporting items

From: A look at the potential association between PICOT framing of a research question and the quality of reporting of analgesia RCTs

Item

Descriptiona

    1. Title or Abstract

Identification as a randomized trial in the title and a structured summary of the trial design, methods, results, and conclusions.

Introduction

    2. Background

Scientific background and explanation of rationale.

    3. Objectives

Specific objectives or hypotheses.

Methods

    4. Participants

Eligibility criteria for participants.

Settings and locations where the data were collected

    5. Interventions

The interventions for each group with sufficient details to allow replication, including how and when they were actually administered.

    6. Outcomes*

Completely defined pre-specified primary and secondary outcome measures, including how and when they were assessed.

    7. Sample Size

How sample size was determined.When applicable, explanation of any interim analyses and stopping guidelines.

    8. Randomization: Sequence Generation

Method used to generate the random allocation sequenceType of randomisation; details of any restriction (such as blocking and block size).

    9. Randomization: Implementation

There is mention of: Who generated the random allocation sequence, who enrolled participants, and who assigned participants to interventions?

    10. Statistical Methods

Statistical methods used to compare groups for primary and secondary outcomes.

Methods for additional analyses, such as subgroup analyses and adjusted analyses.

Results

    11. Participants Flow

For each group, the numbers of participants who were randomly assigned, received intended treatment, and were analysed for the primary outcome.

For each group, losses and exclusions after randomisation, together with reasons.

    12. Recruitment

Dates defining the periods of recruitment and follow-up

Why the trial ended or was stopped.

    13. Baseline Data

A table showing baseline demographic and clinical characteristics for each group.

    14. Outcomes and Estimates

For each primary and secondary outcome, results for each group, and the estimated effect size and its precision (such as 95% confidence interval).

For binary outcomes, presentation of both absolute and relative effect sizes is recommended.

    15. Harms

All important harms or unintended effects in each group

  1. *For the purpose of this study, our original 15 point OQRS was reduced to a 14 point score because one of the 15 items we initially assessed for was “objectives” and this was assessed as part of our PICOT score instead.
  2. aThe descriptions of the reporting items were taken directly from the CONSORT 2010 [16].