Table 5 Association between whether editors or peer reviewers asked for changes or clarifications to the primary outcome(s) and/or statistical analysis and specific journal and trial characteristics

4. Did the editor or peer reviewers ask you to change or clarify the trial`s primary outcomes measure(s)?

Yes

No

Fisher’s exact test

P value

(n = 8)

(n = 250)

 General

3 (38%)

115 (46%)

0.73

0.46

 Specialty

5 (62%)

135 (54%)

 Drug

2 (25%)

125 (50%)

0.28

0.15

 Non-drug

6 (75%)

125 (50%)

 Significant

6 (86%)

110 (48%)

0.06

0.05

 Non-significant

1 (14%)

121 (52%)

 Sole/part industry

1 (14%)

78 (34%)

0.43

0.26

 Non-industry

6 (86%)

153 (66%)

5. Did the editors or peer reviewers ask you to change or clarify the statistical analysis of your primary outcome measure(s)?

Yes (n = 69)

No (n = 189)

Chi² test

P value

 General

31 (45%)

87 (46%)

0.02

0.88

 Specialty

38 (55%)

102 (54%)

 Drug

28 (41%)

99 (52%)

2.82

0.09

 Non-drug

41 (59%)

90 (48%)

 Significant

27 (40%)

89 (52%)

2.66

0.10

 Non-significant

40 (60%)

82 (48%)

 Sole/part industry

17 (26%)

62 (36%)

1.20

0.16

 Non-industry

48 (74%)

111 (64%)