Table 4.

Completeness of reporting on the run-in periods^a

Characteristic	Number (percentage)
Overall level of reporting
Complete reportingb	2 (8%)
Incomplete reportingc	23 (92%)
Reports number of patients excluded during run-in period
Yes	13 (52%)
No	12 (48%)
Reports reasons for exclusion of patients
Yes	7 (28%)
No	18 (72%)
Reports baseline characteristics for excluded patients
Yes	2 (8%)
No	22 (88%)
Uncleard	1 (4%)

Notes:

^aAbsolute numbers are shown, as well as percentages in parentheses. A trial run-in period was completely reported if the publication clearly described 1) the number of excluded patients, 2) reasons for exclusion and 3) baseline characteristics of the excluded patients.

^bTwo publications reported trials with run-in periods, but stated to have no exclusions during this phase. They were, therefore, deemed to be completely reported on all three criteria.

^cOne publication was a rationale and design paper reporting on a trial where patient recruitment and randomization was completed. The publication did not present information on the trial’s 2-week run-in period. We deemed reporting to be incomplete for all three criteria.

^dData were not presented, but excluded and randomized patients were stated to be similar.