Analysis of methodological quality and statistical reporting of randomized controlled trials of physical therapy interventions for musculoskeletal conditions

• Grant number: 13/05575-1
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Master
• Start date: September 01, 2013
• End date: February 28, 2015
• Field of knowledge: Health Sciences - Physiotherapy and Occupational Therapy
• Principal Investigator: Leonardo Oliveira Pena Costa
• Grantee: Gabrielle Zoldan Gonzalez
• Host Institution: Pró-Reitoria de Pós-Graduação, Pesquisa e Extensão. Universidade Cidade de São Paulo (UNICID). São Paulo , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Background: The main component of Evidence-Based Practice involves using high-quality clinical research to aid the decision-making process. However, just a small proportion of clinical trials have good methodological quality. Therefore, an in-depth assessment of methodological quality and statistical reporting is needed. As a consequence healthcare professionals would only take into account the studies with low risk of bias. Over the past decades, there has been a large increase in the number of published articles in musculoskeletal physiotherapy, however the methodological quality and statistical reporting of these studies have not been investigated. Objectives: 1) To describe the methodological quality and statistical reporting of randomized controlled trials indexed in the Physiotherapy Evidence Database (PEDro) that were classified in the musculoskeletal physiotherapy subdiscipline, using the PEDro Quality Scale and nine items related to methodological quality from the CONSORT recommendations; and 2) to analyze the characteristics of the studies that can predict a better methodological quality and statistical reporting. Methods: A total of 1000 randomized controlled trials classified in the musculoskeletal subdiscipline will be randomly selected for the analysis. The analysis of methodological quality and statistical reporting of these studies will be performed by using both the eleven items of the PEDro scale as well as by nine items related to methodological quality from the CONSORT recommendations. Expected results: This study will provide the current state of methodological quality and statistical reporting of randomized controlled trials in the area of musculoskeletal physiotherapy, and it is likely to contribute to the field of physical therapy by pointing methodological gaps in the literature.

Scientific publications

(References retrieved automatically from Web of Science and SciELO through information on FAPESP grants and their corresponding numbers as mentioned in the publications by the authors)

GONZALEZ, GABRIELLE ZOLDAN; MOSELEY, ANNE M.; MAHER, CHRISTOPHER G.; NASCIMENTO, DAFNE PORT; MENEZES COSTA, LUCIOLA DA CUNHA; COSTA, LEONARDO OLIVEIRA. Methodologic Quality and Statistical Reporting of Physical Therapy Randomized Controlled Trials Relevant to Musculoskeletal Conditions. ARCHIVES OF PHYSICAL MEDICINE AND REHABILITATION, v. 99, n. 1, p. 129-136, JAN 2018. (13/05575-1)