Table 1.
Basic characteristics of the included diabetes RCTs published between 2000 and 2020
| Trial characteristics | Overall RCTs (n = 405) |
|---|---|
| Year of publication: n (%) | |
| 2000–2004 | 36 (8.9) |
| 2005–2009 | 97 (24.0) |
| 2010–2014 | 135 (33.3) |
| 2015–2020 | 137 (33.8) |
| Multi-country trials: n (%) | 327 (80.7) |
| Sample size: median (Q1, Q3) | 716 (527, 1246) |
| Age: median (Q1, Q3), years | 58 (55.0, 60.8) |
| Female proportion: n (%) | 46 (39.9, 50.1) |
| Trial aim: n (%) | |
| Glycemic control | 125 (30.9) |
| Management | 173 (42.7) |
| Complication | 105 (25.9) |
| Mixed | 2 (0.5) |
| Trial reimbursement for patients: n (%) | 0 |
| Outpatient enrolment: n (%) | 164 (40.4) |
| Type of diabetes: n (%) | |
| Type 1 diabetes | 16 (4.0) |
| Type 2 diabetes | 346 (85.4) |
| Unspecified | 43 (10.6) |
| Type of randomization: n (%) | |
| Individual | 399 (98.5) |
| Cluster | 6 (1.5) |
| Type of intervention: n (%) | |
| Drug | 347 (85.7) |
| Lifestyle or education | 13 (3.2) |
| Device | 8 (2.0) |
| Others | 37 (9.1) |
| Frequency of intervention: n (%) | |
| > 1 time/week | 325 (80.2) |
| 1 ~ 4 times/month | 11 (2.7) |
| > 1 time/ year | 3 (0.7) |
| Not reported | 66 (16.4) |
| Duration of intervention: median (Q1, Q3), months | 6.5 (6.0, 13.5) |
| Type of follow-up: n (%) | |
| Face-to-face | 231 (57.0) |
| Telephone | 11 (2.7) |
| Others | 33 (8.1) |
| Not reported | 130 (32.2) |
| Frequency of follow-up: n (%) | |
| Weekly | 6 (1.5) |
| Monthly | 32 (7.9) |
| Yearly | 29 (7.2) |
| Not reported | 338 (83.4) |
| Duration of follow-up: median (Q1, Q3), months | 12 (6.0, 18.0) |
| Funding source: n (%) | |
| Public | 67 (16.5) |
| Industry | 304 (75.0) |
| Combination | 28 (6.9) |
| Not reported | 6 (1.6) |
RCT randomized controlled trial, Q1 first quartile, Q3 third quartile