Giannakakis IA, Haidich AB, et al "Citation of randomized evidence in support of guidelines of therapeutic and preventive interventions" JOURNAL OF CLINICAL EPIDEMIOLOGY 55 (6): 545-555 JUN 2002

[Eugene Garfield]

John P.A. Ioannidis : jioannid at cc.uoi.gr

Title   Citation of randomized evidence in support of guidelines of
        therapeutic and preventive interventions
Author  Giannakakis IA, Haidich AB, Contopoulos-Ioannidis DG, Papanikolaou
        GN, Baltogianni MS, Ioannidis JPA
Journal JOURNAL OF CLINICAL EPIDEMIOLOGY  55 (6): 545-555 JUN 2002

 Document type: Article    Language: English
 Cited References: 29        Times Cited: 0


Abstract:
Guideline statements may be supported by evidence obtained from various
study designs, but randomized trials are usually considered most important
for making  recommendations about therapeutic and preventive interventions.
This study evaluated the extent to which randomized trials are cited in
guidelines published in major journals. The references of 191 guidelines of
therapeutic and/or preventive interventions published in Annals of Internal
Medicine, BMJ, JAMA, Lancet, NEJM and Pediatrics in 1979, 1984, 1989, 1994,
and 1999, were analyzed. The percentage of guidelines not citing any
randomized controlled trials (RCTs) decreased gradually from 95% in 1979 to
53% in 1999. Among 4,853 references of the guidelines, there were 393 RCTs
(8.1% of total), 19 systematic reviews (0.4%), and 23 meta-analyses of RCTs
(0.5%). Among 19 guidelines Published in 1999 or 1994 with <2 RCTs cited, in
eight cases additional pertinent RCTs were identified that had not been
cited by the guideline. There is a clear increase in the use of randomized
evidence by guidelines overtime. However, several guidelines in major
journals still cite few or no RCTs. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science. Inc. All
rights reserved.

Author Keywords:
practice guidelines, randomized controlled trial, evidence, citation

KeyWords Plus:
CLINICAL-PRACTICE GUIDELINES, EVIDENCE-BASED MEDICINE, CONTROLLED TRIALS,
NEED, QUALITY, CARE

Addresses:
Ioannidis JPA, Univ Ioannina, Sch Med, Dept Hyg & Epidemiol, Clin Trials &
Evidence Based Med Unit, GR-45110 Ioannina, Greece
Univ Ioannina, Sch Med, Dept Hyg & Epidemiol, Clin Trials & Evidence Based
Med Unit, GR-45110 Ioannina, Greece
George Washington Univ, Sch Med & Hlth Sci, Dept Pediat, Washington, DC
20052 USA
Tufts Univ, Sch Med, Dept Med, Boston, MA 02111 USA

Publisher:
PERGAMON-ELSEVIER SCIENCE LTD, OXFORD

IDS Number:
558GU

ISSN:
0895-4356