Table 1 Characteristics of trials
Characteristic | 1994 to 2002 | 2002 to 2008 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Â | N | n (%) | N | n (%) |
What type of trial design was used? | 122 | Â | 73 | Â |
Parallel | Â | 113 (93) | Â | 66 (90) |
Factorial | Â | 6 (5) | Â | 4 (5) |
Partially randomised patient preference | Â | 3 (2) | Â | 3 (4) |
How many arms were there in the trial? | 122 | Â | 73 | Â |
Two | Â | 94 (77) | Â | 53 (73) |
Three | Â | 18 (15) | Â | 14 (19) |
More than three | Â | 10 (8) | Â | 6 (8) |
What clinical area was the trial investigating? | 122 | Â | 73 | Â |
Cancer | Â | 25 (20) | Â | 4 (5) |
Mental health (including neurosciences/psychiatry/psychology) | Â | 21 (17) | Â | 13 (18) |
Orthopedics/rheumatology (including back pain) | Â | 21 (17) | Â | 1 (1) |
Obstetrics and gynecology | Â | 9 (7) | Â | 2 (3) |
Primary care | Â | 8 (7) | Â | 13 (18) |
Cardiology | Â | 5 (4) | Â | 4 (5) |
Gastroenterology | Â | 5 (4) | Â | 0 (0) |
Incontinence/urology | Â | 5 (4) | Â | 3 (4) |
HIV/AIDS | Â | 5 (4) | Â | 4 (5) |
Other | Â | 18 (15) | Â | 29 (40) |
In what setting did the trial take place? | 122 | Â | 73 | Â |
Hospital | Â | 64 (53) | Â | 29 (40) |
General practice | Â | 26 (21) | Â | 12 (16) |
Mixed | Â | 16 (13) | Â | 17 (23) |
Community | Â | 7 (6) | Â | 15 (21) |
Missing | Â | 9 (7) | Â | 0 (0) |
Were there any recruiting centers outside the UK? | 114 | Â | 73 | Â |
No | Â | 88 (77) | Â | 62 (85) |
Yes | Â | 25 (22) | Â | 11 (15) |
Missing | Â | 1 (1) | Â | 0 (0) |
Was a clinical trials unit involved? | 114 | Â | 73 | Â |
Yes | Â | 89 (78) | Â | 31 (42) |
No | Â | 25 (22) | Â | 40 (55) |
Missing | Â | 0 (0) | Â | 2 (3) |
Which body funded the trial? | 122 | Â | 73 | Â |
UK Medical Research Council (MRC) | Â | 73 (64) | Â | 41 (56) |
UK Health Technology Assessment (HTA) | Â | 41 (36) | Â | 31 (43) |
Both | Â | 0 (0) | Â | 1 (100) |