TY - JOUR
T1 - Quality of randomized controlled trials in eating disorder prevention
AU - Watson, Hunna J.
AU - Goodman, Erica L.
AU - McLagan, Nicole B.
AU - Joyce, Tara
AU - French, Elizabeth
AU - Willan, Vivienne
AU - Egan, Sarah J.
PY - 2017/5/1
Y1 - 2017/5/1
N2 - Objective: To investigate the quality of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) of eating disorder prevention. Method: A systematic literature search was conducted in Medline, PsycINFO, Embase, Scopus, and the Cochrane Collaboration Library to January 2016. Studies were included if they were RCTs that tested an eating disorder prevention program. We identified 96 studies with a total 15,350 participants (91% female, M age = 17 years) and rated quality with the Quality Rating Scale (QRS; Moncrieff et al., 2001). Results: The mean QRS score was 62% (SD = 13%). Several standards of quality were not frequently fulfilled (i.e., failed to achieve an optimal rating), for example, power calculation (85%), intent-to-treat analysis (54%), blinding of assessor (75%), representative sample (78%), adequate sample size (75%), and appropriate duration of trial including follow-up (67%). QRS was positively and significantly associated with publication year, number of authors, and PubMed-indexation. Discussion: Given the majority of eating disorder prevention studies had problems with trial quality, it is recommended that future RCTs follow quality checklists and CONSORT guidelines, that RCTs are registered, and protocols published in advance. In addition, funding bodies are called on to deliver the support needed to ensure that preventions for eating disorders are efficiently and cost-effectively achieved.
AB - Objective: To investigate the quality of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) of eating disorder prevention. Method: A systematic literature search was conducted in Medline, PsycINFO, Embase, Scopus, and the Cochrane Collaboration Library to January 2016. Studies were included if they were RCTs that tested an eating disorder prevention program. We identified 96 studies with a total 15,350 participants (91% female, M age = 17 years) and rated quality with the Quality Rating Scale (QRS; Moncrieff et al., 2001). Results: The mean QRS score was 62% (SD = 13%). Several standards of quality were not frequently fulfilled (i.e., failed to achieve an optimal rating), for example, power calculation (85%), intent-to-treat analysis (54%), blinding of assessor (75%), representative sample (78%), adequate sample size (75%), and appropriate duration of trial including follow-up (67%). QRS was positively and significantly associated with publication year, number of authors, and PubMed-indexation. Discussion: Given the majority of eating disorder prevention studies had problems with trial quality, it is recommended that future RCTs follow quality checklists and CONSORT guidelines, that RCTs are registered, and protocols published in advance. In addition, funding bodies are called on to deliver the support needed to ensure that preventions for eating disorders are efficiently and cost-effectively achieved.
KW - bias
KW - eating disorders
KW - prevention
KW - quality
KW - randomized controlled trials
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85019144177&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1002/eat.22712
DO - 10.1002/eat.22712
M3 - Review article
C2 - 28489337
AN - SCOPUS:85019144177
SN - 0276-3478
VL - 50
SP - 459
EP - 470
JO - International Journal of Eating Disorders
JF - International Journal of Eating Disorders
IS - 5
ER -