Table 3.
Distribution of protocol characteristics in terms of citation of relevant research (n = 101)
| Protocol characteristics | Total (n = 101) | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| N | % | 95% CI | |
| Claims that randomised trial is the first to address the question | 18 | 17.8 | 10.9, 26.7 |
| Contains an updated systematic review used to inform trial design | 31 | 30.7 | 21.9, 40.7 |
| Contains systematic review and new trials (published since the systematic review was published) that were used to inform trial design | 10 | 9.9 | 4.9, 17.5 |
| Previous systematic review discussed but not used in trial design | 9 | 8.9 | 4.2, 16.2 |
| Contains references to other randomised trials | 22 | 21.8 | 14.2, 31.1 |
| Does not contain references to other randomised trials or claim to be the first trial | 11 | 10.9 | 5.6, 18.7 |