Mapping the methodological diversity of published drug discontinuation studies—a scoping review of study topics, objectives, and designs
Abstract Background Trials evaluating drug discontinuation (drug discontinuation trials, DDTs) show a broad methodological spectrum. There are several specific methodological aspects in drug discontinuation trials (e.g., determination of research question; configuration of intervention; definition o...
| Main Authors: | , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
BMC
2023-01-01
|
| Series: | Trials |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s13063-023-07105-6 |
| _version_ | 1811175665335009280 |
|---|---|
| author | Nina Grede Katrin Kuss Ina Staudt Norbert Donner-Banzhoff Annika Viniol |
| author_facet | Nina Grede Katrin Kuss Ina Staudt Norbert Donner-Banzhoff Annika Viniol |
| author_sort | Nina Grede |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background Trials evaluating drug discontinuation (drug discontinuation trials, DDTs) show a broad methodological spectrum. There are several specific methodological aspects in drug discontinuation trials (e.g., determination of research question; configuration of intervention; definition of outcomes). To verify this specifies, we did a scoping review about the study designs of drug discontinuation trials. Methods A systematic literature search in Medline (PubMed), The Cochrane Library, EMBASE, CINAHL, Web of Science, and PsycINFO was performed. In a two-step selection process, we identified DDTs, which evaluate the discontinuation of one or more long-term medication as the investigated intervention, by two independent reviewers. Besides bibliographic data, we extracted several parameters to describe the used study design of the included DDTs: motivation for DDT, initially treatment aim of the discontinued medication, study design, methods of discontinuation, follow-up times, number of study participants, and outcome parameter. Results Out of 12,132 records, we included 581 DDTs. The most common motivation for doing a DDT were expected side effects (48.8%), the motivation of proving the efficacy of medication (21.6%), or doubts on the expected benefit of the used medication (13.8%). The majority of the discontinued medication was initially prescribed to improve the prognosis of a chronic disease (60.4%) or to relieve symptoms (31%). The study designs of the trials showed a broad methodological spectrum. The minority of the drug discontinuation trials were randomized controlled trials (34%). Conclusion The results of this scoping review illustrates the need for an evidence-based methodological standard for planning and conducting drug discontinuation trials. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-10T19:40:29Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-01ee9361fd1f44c5b0236270802e086d |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1745-6215 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-10T19:40:29Z |
| publishDate | 2023-01-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Trials |
| spelling | doaj.art-01ee9361fd1f44c5b0236270802e086d2023-01-29T12:21:26ZengBMCTrials1745-62152023-01-012411910.1186/s13063-023-07105-6Mapping the methodological diversity of published drug discontinuation studies—a scoping review of study topics, objectives, and designsNina Grede0Katrin Kuss1Ina Staudt2Norbert Donner-Banzhoff3Annika Viniol4Department of General Medicine, Preventive and Rehabilitation Medicine, University of MarburgDepartment of General Medicine, Preventive and Rehabilitation Medicine, University of MarburgDepartment of General Medicine, Preventive and Rehabilitation Medicine, University of MarburgDepartment of General Medicine, Preventive and Rehabilitation Medicine, University of MarburgDepartment of General Medicine, Preventive and Rehabilitation Medicine, University of MarburgAbstract Background Trials evaluating drug discontinuation (drug discontinuation trials, DDTs) show a broad methodological spectrum. There are several specific methodological aspects in drug discontinuation trials (e.g., determination of research question; configuration of intervention; definition of outcomes). To verify this specifies, we did a scoping review about the study designs of drug discontinuation trials. Methods A systematic literature search in Medline (PubMed), The Cochrane Library, EMBASE, CINAHL, Web of Science, and PsycINFO was performed. In a two-step selection process, we identified DDTs, which evaluate the discontinuation of one or more long-term medication as the investigated intervention, by two independent reviewers. Besides bibliographic data, we extracted several parameters to describe the used study design of the included DDTs: motivation for DDT, initially treatment aim of the discontinued medication, study design, methods of discontinuation, follow-up times, number of study participants, and outcome parameter. Results Out of 12,132 records, we included 581 DDTs. The most common motivation for doing a DDT were expected side effects (48.8%), the motivation of proving the efficacy of medication (21.6%), or doubts on the expected benefit of the used medication (13.8%). The majority of the discontinued medication was initially prescribed to improve the prognosis of a chronic disease (60.4%) or to relieve symptoms (31%). The study designs of the trials showed a broad methodological spectrum. The minority of the drug discontinuation trials were randomized controlled trials (34%). Conclusion The results of this scoping review illustrates the need for an evidence-based methodological standard for planning and conducting drug discontinuation trials.https://doi.org/10.1186/s13063-023-07105-6Drug discontinuationWithdrawalScoping reviewPolypharmacyPRISMA-ScR |
| spellingShingle | Nina Grede Katrin Kuss Ina Staudt Norbert Donner-Banzhoff Annika Viniol Mapping the methodological diversity of published drug discontinuation studies—a scoping review of study topics, objectives, and designs Trials Drug discontinuation Withdrawal Scoping review Polypharmacy PRISMA-ScR |
| title | Mapping the methodological diversity of published drug discontinuation studies—a scoping review of study topics, objectives, and designs |
| title_full | Mapping the methodological diversity of published drug discontinuation studies—a scoping review of study topics, objectives, and designs |
| title_fullStr | Mapping the methodological diversity of published drug discontinuation studies—a scoping review of study topics, objectives, and designs |
| title_full_unstemmed | Mapping the methodological diversity of published drug discontinuation studies—a scoping review of study topics, objectives, and designs |
| title_short | Mapping the methodological diversity of published drug discontinuation studies—a scoping review of study topics, objectives, and designs |
| title_sort | mapping the methodological diversity of published drug discontinuation studies a scoping review of study topics objectives and designs |
| topic | Drug discontinuation Withdrawal Scoping review Polypharmacy PRISMA-ScR |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s13063-023-07105-6 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT ninagrede mappingthemethodologicaldiversityofpublisheddrugdiscontinuationstudiesascopingreviewofstudytopicsobjectivesanddesigns AT katrinkuss mappingthemethodologicaldiversityofpublisheddrugdiscontinuationstudiesascopingreviewofstudytopicsobjectivesanddesigns AT inastaudt mappingthemethodologicaldiversityofpublisheddrugdiscontinuationstudiesascopingreviewofstudytopicsobjectivesanddesigns AT norbertdonnerbanzhoff mappingthemethodologicaldiversityofpublisheddrugdiscontinuationstudiesascopingreviewofstudytopicsobjectivesanddesigns AT annikaviniol mappingthemethodologicaldiversityofpublisheddrugdiscontinuationstudiesascopingreviewofstudytopicsobjectivesanddesigns |