Time to register randomised trials

BMJ 1999;319:865-866 ( 2 October )

Editorials

Time to register randomised trials

The case is now unanswerable

The first 150 words of the full text of this article appear below.

The case for registering all clinical trials $---$ first advanced a decade ago¹ $---$ is now unanswerable. The public has the rightto know what research is being funded. Researchers and researchfunders don't want to waste resources repeating trials alreadyunder way. And those conducting systematic reviews need to beable to identify all trials begun on a subject to avoid the problemof publication bias. Otherwise, clinicians may be deceived onwhat the evidence shows. Next week the Lancet, the Associationof the British Pharmaceutical Industry, and the BMJ PublishingGroup will hold a joint conference to promote the registeringoftrials.

Each year a vast financial investment is made by national funding agencies, medical research charities, and drug and devicemanufacturers in randomised controlled trials. Unfortunately theprocess is chaotic and takes little account of concurrent research.Several case studies have shown how the manipulation of trialdata . . . [Full text of this article]

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Rapid Responses:

Read all Rapid Responses

Registration of Trials - The system is already there!: Terence W Wiseman
bmj.com, 4 Oct 1999 [Full text]
Why the secrecy? Publish all research protocols.: Brian Morgan
bmj.com, 5 Oct 1999 [Full text]
The difficulties in obtaining copies of research protocols: Penny Mellor
bmj.com, 5 Oct 1999 [Full text]
Time to register randomised trials: Selwyn St Leger
bmj.com, 6 Oct 1999 [Full text]
A good idea that doesn''t go far enough: Adam Jacobs
bmj.com, 8 Oct 1999 [Full text]