Skip to main content
. 2009 Jun 8;4(6):e5826. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0005826

Table 3. Association between characteristics of articles and statistically significant author's conclusions that favor the test drug: Univariate exact logistic regression.

Conclusions that favor test drug (glitazone) Odds Ratio (95% CI) P value
Favorable N/Total N (%)
Journal characteristics
Journal Impact factor
Range 0.34–44.02 45/56 (80) 0.794 (0.619, 0.967) 0.0109
Mean Value = 4.63
Std deviation = 6.06
Median Value = 2.84
Study characteristics
Comparison Groups
Placebo Controlled trial 25/28 (89) 1.00
Drug–drug Comparative trial 23/33 (70) 0.276 (0.044, 1.277) 0.1178
Sample size
Range 20–4360 48/61 (79) 1.000 (0.999, 1.001) 0.4099
Mean Value = 390
Std deviation = 590.4
Median Value = 252
Study design characteristics aimed at reducing bias
Randomization/Concealment of allocation
Adequate 13/15 (87) 2.043 (0.362, 21.213) 0.6354
Blinding
Adequate 31/36 (86) 2.918 (0.698, 13.026) 0.1689
ITT Analysis
Adequate 39/48 (81) 1.445 (0.208, 7.501) 0.8959
Follow-up
Adequate 38/49 (78) 0.691 (0.065, 4.051) 1.0000
Appropriate Medication Dosing
Test drug – Adequate 48/60 (80) Infinite (0.095, Infinite) 0.4262
Comparator drug - Adequate 20/30 (67) 0 (0, 5.654) 0.6492
Author characteristics
Corresponding Author Institutional Affiliation
Test drug company 15/16 (94) Infinite (0.192, Infinite) 0.2353
Any other industry 0/1 (0)
Academic/Hospital 33/43 (77) Infinite (0.077, Infinite) 0.5000
All Other 0/1 (0) 1.000
Funding information
Funding source
Test drug company/any other industry/other drug companies 1/2 (50) 0.130 (0.002, 13.627) 0.5397
Test drug company employee author/no formal disclosure 2/2 (100) Infinite (0.020, Infinite) 1.0000
Any other drug company 1/6 ((17) 0.026 (0, 0.400) 0.0030
No drug company 1/1 (100) Infinite (0.003, Infinite) 1.0000
No funding disclosure 20/24 (83) 0.652 (0.086, 4.407) 0.9068
Test drug funding
Test drug funding 26/30 (87) 2.659 (0.623, 13.280) 0.2357
Corresponding Author Financial Ties
Test drug company ties/any other industry ties 2/5 (40) 0 (0, 1.644) 0.1212
Test drug company employee/no formal disclosure of ties 15/15 (100) 1.000
Any other industry ties 1/2 (50) 0 (0, 13.000) 0.5000
No disclosure of ties 23/32 (72) 0 (0, 2.705) 0.3441
Corresponding Author Test Drug Financial Ties
Test drug financial ties 23/26 (89) 3.067 (0.664, 19.156) 0.1937
First Author Financial Ties
Test drug company ties/any other industry ties 2/5 (40) 0 (0, 2.027) 0.1667
Test drug company employee/no formal disclosure of ties 5/5 (100) 1.000
Any other industry ties 1/2 (50) 0 (0, 15.600) 0.5714
No disclosure of ties 35/44 (80) 0 (0, 5.075) 0.6901
First Author Test Drug Financial Ties
Test drug financial ties 12/15 (80) 1.111 (0.230, 7.302) 1.0000