Table 1.
The Extraction Criteria According to the CONSORT 2010 Checklist
Section/Topic | Item No. | Checklist item |
---|---|---|
Title and abstract | ||
1 | Identification as a randomized trial in the title | |
2 | Structured summary of trial design, methods, results, and conclusions (for specific guidance see CONSORT for abstracts) | |
Introduction | ||
Background and objectives | 3 | Scientific background and explanation of rationale |
4 | Specific objectives or hypotheses | |
Methods | ||
Trial design | 5 | Description of trial design (such as parallel, factorial) including allocation ratio |
6 | Important changes to methods after trial commencement (such as eligibility criteria), with reasons | |
Participants | 7 | Eligibility criteria for participants |
8 | Settings and locations where the data were collected | |
Interventions | 9 | The interventions for each group with sufficient details to allow replication, including how and when they were actually administered |
Outcomes | 10 | Completely defined pre-specified primary and secondary outcome measures, including how and when they were assessed |
11 | Any changes to trial outcomes after the trial commenced, with reasons | |
Sample size | 12 | How sample size was determined |
13 | When applicable, explanation of any interim analyses and stopping guidelines | |
Randomization: | ||
Sequence generation | 14 | Method used to generate the random allocation sequence |
15 | Type of randomization; details of any restriction (such as blocking and block size) | |
Allocation concealment mechanism | 16 | Mechanism used to implement the random allocation sequence (such as sequentially numbered containers), describing any steps taken to conceal the sequence until interventions were assigned |
Implementation | 17 | Who generated the random allocation sequence, who enrolled participants, and who assigned participants to interventions |
Blinding | 18 | If done, who was blinded after assignment to interventions (for example, participants, care providers, those assessing outcomes) and how |
19 | If relevant, description of the similarity of interventions | |
Statistical methods | 20 | Statistical methods used to compare groups for primary and secondary outcomes |
21 | Methods for additional analyses, such as subgroup analyses and adjusted analyses | |
Results | ||
Participant flow (a diagram is strongly recommended) | 22 | For each group, the numbers of participants who were randomly assigned, received intended treatment, and were analyzed for the primary outcome |
23 | For each group, losses and exclusions after randomization, together with reasons | |
Recruitment | 24 | Dates defining the periods of recruitment and follow-up |
25 | Why the trial ended or was stopped | |
Baseline data | 26 | A table showing baseline demographic and clinical characteristics for each group |
Numbers analysed | 27 | For each group, number of participants (denominator) included in each analysis and whether the analysis was by original assigned groups |
Outcomes and estimation | 28 | For each primary and secondary outcome, results for each group, and the estimated effect size and its precision (such as 95% confidence interval) |
29 | For binary outcomes, presentation of both absolute and relative effect sizes is recommended | |
Ancillary analyses | 30 | Results of any other analyses performed, including subgroup analyses and adjusted analyses, distinguishing pre-specified from exploratory |
Harms | 31 | All important harms or unintended effects in each group (for specific guidance see CONSORT for harms) |
Discussion | ||
Limitations | 32 | Trial limitations, addressing sources of potential bias, imprecision, and, if relevant, multiplicity of analyses |
Generalizability | 33 | Generalizability (external validity, applicability) of the trial findings |
Interpretation | 34 | Interpretation consistent with results, balancing benefits and harms, and considering other relevant evidence |
Other information | ||
Registration | 35 | Registration number and name of trial registry |
Protocol | 36 | Where the full trial protocol can be accessed, if available |
Funding | 37 | Sources of funding and other support (such as supply of drugs), role of funders |