PRECIS-2 for retrospective assessment of RCTs in systematic reviews: some thoughts on intention, dichotomization and applicability of RCTs

Merrick Zwarenstein; Kevin Thorpe; Shaun Treweek; Kirsty Loudon

doi:10.1016/j.jclinepi.2020.06.023

PRECIS-2 for retrospective assessment of RCTs in systematic reviews: some thoughts on intention, dichotomization and applicability of RCTs

Merrick Zwarenstein^* (Corresponding Author), Kevin Thorpe, Shaun Treweek, Kirsty Loudon

^*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

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Abstract

The Journal of Clinical Epidemiology is the main forum for discussions on prospectively matching pragmatic or explanatory intent with the design of single randomized controlled trial (RCTs). With this paper by Dal-Ré et al1 it has also become a forum for discussing the PRECIS-2 tool2 for retrospectively assessing multiple RCTs within reviews. PRECIS derives from the acronym “PRagmatic Explanatory Continuum Indicator Summary”, with the word pronounced as “pray-see” and meaning “summary”. Although Dal-Ré uses examples of subdiscipline reviews, we discuss also systematic reviews of intervention effectiveness, into which PRECIS-2’s measure of design features and usefulness for choosing between interventions could be incorporated. This would complement the Cochrane Risk of Bias score3, which permits users to consider the quality of trials in their decision.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	202-206
Number of pages	5
Journal	Journal of Clinical Epidemiology
Volume	126
Early online date	19 Jun 2020
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclinepi.2020.06.023
Publication status	Published - 1 Oct 2020

Keywords

Applicability
Explanatory trial
External validity
Pragmatic trial
Randomized controlled trial
Systematic review
Trial intention

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Accepted author manuscript, 159 KBLicence: CC BY-NC-ND

Cite this

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title = "PRECIS-2 for retrospective assessment of RCTs in systematic reviews: some thoughts on intention, dichotomization and applicability of RCTs",

abstract = "The Journal of Clinical Epidemiology is the main forum for discussions on prospectively matching pragmatic or explanatory intent with the design of single randomized controlled trial (RCTs). With this paper by Dal-R{\'e} et al1 it has also become a forum for discussing the PRECIS-2 tool2 for retrospectively assessing multiple RCTs within reviews. PRECIS derives from the acronym “PRagmatic Explanatory Continuum Indicator Summary”, with the word pronounced as “pray-see” and meaning “summary”. Although Dal-R{\'e} uses examples of subdiscipline reviews, we discuss also systematic reviews of intervention effectiveness, into which PRECIS-2{\textquoteright}s measure of design features and usefulness for choosing between interventions could be incorporated. This would complement the Cochrane Risk of Bias score3, which permits users to consider the quality of trials in their decision.",

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author = "Merrick Zwarenstein and Kevin Thorpe and Shaun Treweek and Kirsty Loudon",

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AU - Treweek, Shaun

AU - Loudon, Kirsty

PY - 2020/10/1

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JO - Journal of Clinical Epidemiology

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PRECIS-2 for retrospective assessment of RCTs in systematic reviews: some thoughts on intention, dichotomization and applicability of RCTs

Abstract

Keywords

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