Table 2.
Methodological Quality of the Radiation Therapy Oncology Group Randomized Controlled Trials*
|
No.(%) of Trials(n = 57) |
||
|---|---|---|
| Variable | Actual | Reported |
| Expected difference in outcomes prespecified | ||
| Yes | 45 (79) | 7 (12) |
| No | 8 (14) | . . . |
| Unclear or missing data | 4 (7) | 50 (88) |
| Expected α error prespecified | ||
| Yes | 45 (79) | 6 (11) |
| No | 8 (14) | . . . |
| Unclear or missing | 4 (7) | 51 (89) |
| β Error prespecified | ||
| Yes | 44 (77) | 6 (11) |
| No | 9 (16) | . . . |
| Unclear or missing data | 4 (7) | . . . |
| Sample size prespecified | ||
| Yes | 45 (79) | 9 (16) |
| No | 8 (14) | . . . |
| Unclear or missing data | 4 (7) | 48 (84) |
| Adequate allocation concealment (randomization done through central office) | ||
| Yes | 57 (100) | 24 (42) |
| Unclear or missing | . . . | 33 (58) |
| Dropouts described | ||
| Yes | 52 (91) | 52 (91) |
| No | 5 (9) | 5 (9) |
| Intention-to-treat analysis | ||
| Yes | 48 (84) | 41 (72) |
| No | 7 (12) | 6 (11) |
| Unclear | 2 (4) | 10 (17) |
*
Quality of reporting vs actual methodological quality is based on information from research protocols and verification by the radiation therapy oncology group statistical headquarter.