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. Author manuscript; available in PMC: 2013 Nov 1.
Published in final edited form as: Addiction. 2012 Jun 15;107(11):1915–1928. doi: 10.1111/j.1360-0443.2012.03911.x

Table 3.

Frequency and proportion of studies (N = 26) that received a positive response to each of the 59 ATQ* questions (in descending order)

ATQ Question Number N %
1. Described theories used in designing behavioral interventions** 26 100
7. Described the delivery method 26 100
14. Described specific objectives and hypotheses 26 100
15. Clearly defined primary and secondary outcome measures 26 100
20. Described the unit of assignment (the unit being assigned to study condition, e.g., individual, group, community) 26 100
24. Reported the smallest unit that was analyzed to assess intervention effects (e.g., individual, group, or community) and analytical method used to
account for this if the unit of analysis differed from the unit of assignment
26 100
25. Described the statistical methods used to compare study groups for primary outcomes, including complex methods for correlated data 26 100
44. Summarized results for each condition for each primary and secondary outcome 26 100
49. Summarized other analyses performed, including subgroup or restricted analyses, indicating which are pre-specified or exploratory 26 100
51. Interpreted the results, taking into account study hypotheses, sources of potential bias, imprecision of measures, multiplicative analyses, and other
 limitations or weaknesses of the study
26 100
56. Described the general interpretation of the results in the context of current evidence and current theory 26 100
6. Described the content of interventions intended for each study condition 25 96.2
8. Described the unit of delivery or how subjects were grouped during delivery 25 96.2
11. Reported the number of sessions or events that were intended to be delivered 25 96.2
26. Described the statistical methods used for additional analysis, such as subgroup analyses and adjusted analysis 25 96.2
37. Described baseline characteristics for each study condition relevant to the gamblers being studied 25 96.2
2. Described the eligibility criteria for participants, including criteria at different levels in recruitment / sampling plan 24 92.3
3. Described the method of recruitment (e.g., referral, self-selection) 24 92.3
30. Reported the number of participants assigned to each study condition 24 92.3
36. Described baseline demographic and clinical characteristics of participants in each study condition 23 88.5
41. Described the data on group equivalence at baseline and the statistical methods to control for baseline differences, if found 23 88.5
45. Reported the estimated effect size 23 88.5
52. Described the extent that the limitations affect the validity of the study (and reasons) 23 88.5
31. Reported the number of participants who received each study condition 22 84.6
32. Reported the number of participants who completed the follow up or did not complete the follow up by study condition 22 84.6
42. Reported the number of participants (denominator) included in each analysis for each study condition, particularly when the denominators change for
 different outcomes; statement of the results in absolute numbers when feasible
22 84.6
9. Reported the person who delivered the intervention 21 80.8
17. Described the methods of data collection for each study variable 21 80.8
21. Described methods used to adding units to study condition including details of any restrictions (e.g., blocking, stratification) 21 80.8
16. Provided justification for outcomes measures 20 76.9
29. Reported the number of participants screened for eligibility, found to be eligible or not eligible, delinked to be enrolled, and enrolled in the study 20 76.9
43. Indicated whether the analysis was “intention-to-treat,” or, if not description of how non-compliers were considered in the analysis 20 76.9
12. Reported the duration of each session 19 73.1
27. Described the method for imputing missing data 18 69.2
47. Described the null and negative findings 18 69.2
57. Reported funding for the study 17 65.4
18. Reported the psychometric properties of each outcome measure 15 57.7
4. Reported the recruitment setting (e.g. gay bar, city) 14 53.8
55. Discussed the generalizability (external validity) of the trial findings, taking into account the study population, the characteristics of the
intervention, length of follow up, incentives, compliance rates, specific sites/ settings involved in the study, and other contextual issues
14 53.8
10. Described the intervention setting 13 50.0
13. Reported activities to increase compliance or adherence (e.g. incentives) 12 46.2
58. Reported involvement with IRB 11 42.3
54. Discussed the success of and barriers to implementing the intervention; fidelity of implementation 10 38.5
19. Described how the sample size was determined and, when applicable, explained any interim analyses and stopping rules 9 34.6
23. Reported whether participants or researchers were blinded to study condition assignment, and if so, described how the blinding was accomplished and
 assessed
9 34.6
28. Reported the statistical software used 9 34.6
34. Reported the dates defining the periods of recruitment 8 30.8
38. Described baseline characteristics of those lost to follow-up and those retained, overall 6 23.1
53. Interpreted the results, taking into account study hypotheses, sources of potential bias, imprecision of measures, multiplicative analyses, and other
limitations or weaknesses of the study
6 23.1
46. Reported a confidence interval to indicate precision 5 19.2
5. Described the sampling method 4 15.4
40. Presented a comparison between study population at baseline and target population of interest 4 15.4
22. Described methods to minimize potential bias due to non-randomization or randomization (e.g. matching) 3 11.5
39. Described baseline characteristics of those lost to follow-up and those retained, by study condition 3 11.5
59. Reported registration number and name of trial registry 3 11.5
48. Described how the investigators tested pre-specified causal pathways through which the intervention was intended to operate, if any (e.g, as for CBT) 2 7.7
33. Described protocol deviations from study as planned along with reasons 1 3.8
50. Reported all important adverse events or unintended effects in each study condition 1 3.8
35. Reported dates defining the periods of treatment and follow-up 0 0.0
Mean for all questions 16.9 63.8
Mean for particularly important questions 15.3 66.5
*

Adapted TREND Questionnaire

**

Bold items correspond to the TREND Statement’s list particularly important transparency standards