At a glance
ClinicalIndex Comparison RecordStandardized by ClinicalIndex from the ClinicalTrials.gov record · verify against the source.
Impact of "Spin" on the Interpretation of Results of Randomized Trials in the Field of Cancer
In Brief
A clinical study evaluating interpretation of the abstract for the Study Focus on no Specific Condition. Completed, enrolled 300 participants across 1 site.
Detailed Summary
Randomized controlled trials (RCT) are the gold standard for therapeutic evaluation. Rapid dissemination of trial results and their translation into clinical practice is particularly important. Abstracts published or presented in conferences are a large, rapid and free method to disseminate these results. However, this mode of dissemination may have serious consequences for patients if abstracts are not an accurate and unbiased reflection of the trial results. Investigators have great freedom when writing their abstracts and articles: they can choose the data and decide how to present it. Consequently, they have many opportunities to shape readers' impressions of their results, that is, to add "spin" (ie, spin is a specific way of reporting to convince readers that the beneficial effect of the experimental treatment is higher than shown by the results). Objective: To assess the impact of spin on the interpretation of results in abstracts of randomized controlled trials with non-statistically significant results in the field of cancer.