Table 1.

Current weaknesses in the evaluation of surgical techniques

Aspects of methodology for evaluating surgical techniques which are currently lacking or in need of improvement	Phase of study
Innovative designs for small sample studies	(I)
Description of disease population	(II)
Description of selection process	(II)
Explanation of modifications of technique (with timescale)	(II)
Standard methods for reporting co-morbidity	(II)
Standard set of reported outcomes	(II)
Standard definitions of reported outcomes	(II)
Learning curve evaluation	(II/III)
Definition of procedures compared	(III)
Quality control	(II/III)
Informed consent based on qualitative assessment of patient values	(III)
Third party randomization to improve equipoise	(III)
Risk adjusted continuous performance monitoring	(IV)