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KMID : 1129720170340040251
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Korean Journal of Acupuncture
2017 Volume.34 No. 4 p.251 ~ p.264
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Spin in Randomised Clinical Trial Reports of Interventions for Obesity
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Lee Sle
Won Ji-Yoon
Kim Seo-Yeon
Park Su-Jeong
Lee Hyang-Sook
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Abstract
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Objectives: To identify the prevalence and types of spin in randomised controlled trials(RCTs) of obesity with statistically non-significant results for primary outcomes to provide adequate reporting directions.
Methods: Spin is specific reporting strategy that could lead the readers to misinterpret the results of RCTs. RCTs on obesity with statistically non-significant primary outcomes published from July 2015 to June 2016 were retrieved from PubMed. All included RCTs were classified into 3 intervention categories. The identification and classification of spin in the included articles was performed by two independent researchers.
Results: Among 46 RCTs with statistically non-significant primary outcomes, 32 studies were assessed as having at least one spin in title, abstract or main text. Of these, 9 articles were on complementary and alternative medicine, 7 on western medicine and 16 on dietary supplement and exercise. The frequency of spin among the types of interventions was similar. The most common type of spin was ‘focusing on statistical significance within-group comparison’ in results section of abstract and main text, and ‘focusing only on treatment effectiveness with no consideration of statistical significance’ in conclusion section of abstract and main text. Studies where random sequence generation was appropriately done was less likely to have spin.
Conclusions: As a majority of obesity RCTs have spin, researchers should pay more attention to adequately interpreting and reporting statistically non-significant results.
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KEYWORD
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Spin, randomised controlled trial, obesity, reporting
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