open access
Vol 15, No 3 (2019)
Review paper
Published online: 2019-06-26
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Critical appraisal of clinical trials in oncology — part II
Piotr Potemski1, Joanna Połowinczak-Przybyłek1, Rafał Wójcik2, Marcin Kaczor3
DOI: 10.5603/OCP.2019.0013
·
Oncol Clin Pract 2019;15(3):158-166.
Affiliations- The Department of Chemotherapy, Copernicus Memorial Multidisciplinary Centre for Oncology and Traumatology, Lodz; Chemotherapy Clinic, Medical University of Lodz, Poland
- Aestimo, Krakow, Poland
- Jagiellonian University Medical College, Krakow, Poland
open access
Vol 15, No 3 (2019)
REVIEW ARTICLES
Published online: 2019-06-26
Abstract
The article is the second part of papers presenting informations useful for an independent analysis of the value of published results of clinical trials in oncology. Based on selected examples of clinical trials, a few attempts of critical appraisal of clinical trial assumptions, construction, and interpretation of their results are given. Several non-inferiority trials are discussed. The paper provides examples of publications in which post hoc analyses, grouping of variables, and multiple comparisons were made. Examples of research with a controversial selection of patients and a comparator, as well as studies whose clinical significance of the obtained results is questionable are presented. The aim of our work is to draw the reader’s attention to selected essential elements of clinical trials and the way of presenting their results in order to facilitate practitioners in the independent evaluation of available publications and rational use of clinical trial results in everyday practice in the future.
Abstract
The article is the second part of papers presenting informations useful for an independent analysis of the value of published results of clinical trials in oncology. Based on selected examples of clinical trials, a few attempts of critical appraisal of clinical trial assumptions, construction, and interpretation of their results are given. Several non-inferiority trials are discussed. The paper provides examples of publications in which post hoc analyses, grouping of variables, and multiple comparisons were made. Examples of research with a controversial selection of patients and a comparator, as well as studies whose clinical significance of the obtained results is questionable are presented. The aim of our work is to draw the reader’s attention to selected essential elements of clinical trials and the way of presenting their results in order to facilitate practitioners in the independent evaluation of available publications and rational use of clinical trial results in everyday practice in the future.
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Keywords
oncology; clinical trials; critical appraisal; publication analysis; research methodology; interpretation of results
About this articleTitle
Critical appraisal of clinical trials in oncology — part II
Journal
Issue
Article type
Review paper
Pages
158-166
Published online
2019-06-26
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942
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601
DOI
10.5603/OCP.2019.0013
Bibliographic record
Oncol Clin Pract 2019;15(3):158-166.
Keywords
oncology
clinical trials
critical appraisal
publication analysis
research methodology
interpretation of results
Authors
Piotr Potemski
Joanna Połowinczak-Przybyłek
Rafał Wójcik
Marcin Kaczor
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