A New Way to Publish Clinical Trials for Patient Safety
Author Information
Author(s): Richard Smith, Ian Roberts
Primary Institution: London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine
Hypothesis
The current model of publishing clinical trials is detrimental to public health and requires reform.
Conclusion
The authors propose a new model for publishing clinical trials that emphasizes transparency and systematic reviews to improve patient safety.
Supporting Evidence
- Current medical journals often publish biased and incomplete results from clinical trials.
- Many trials are conducted without a systematic review of existing evidence.
- Results are frequently manipulated to favor sponsors, leading to misinformation.
Takeaway
The way we share results from medical trials needs to change so that everyone can see the full picture and make better health decisions.
Methodology
The authors suggest a model where trial protocols and systematic reviews are posted online for public comment and scrutiny.
Potential Biases
The current publication model allows for selective reporting and manipulation of trial results.
Limitations
The proposed model may face resistance from drug companies and journals that benefit from the current system.
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
Want to read the original?
Access the complete publication on the publisher's website