Assessment of Risk of Bias in Osteosarcoma and Ewing’s Sarcoma Randomized Controlled Trials: A Systematic Review
Aim: The aim of this study was to systematically assess the risk of bias in osteosarcoma and Ewing’s sarcoma (ES) randomized controlled trials (RCT) and to examine the relationships between bias and conflict of interest/industry sponsorship. Methods: An OVID-MEDLINE search was performed (1976–2019)....
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2021-09-01
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| Series: | Current Oncology |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/1718-7729/28/5/322 |
| _version_ | 1827679858296094720 |
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| author | Robert Koucheki Aaron M. Gazendam Jonathan R. Perera Anthony Griffin Peter Ferguson Jay Wunder Kim Tsoi |
| author_facet | Robert Koucheki Aaron M. Gazendam Jonathan R. Perera Anthony Griffin Peter Ferguson Jay Wunder Kim Tsoi |
| author_sort | Robert Koucheki |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Aim: The aim of this study was to systematically assess the risk of bias in osteosarcoma and Ewing’s sarcoma (ES) randomized controlled trials (RCT) and to examine the relationships between bias and conflict of interest/industry sponsorship. Methods: An OVID-MEDLINE search was performed (1976–2019). Using the Cochrane Collaboration guidelines, two reviewers independently assessed the prevalence of risk of bias in different RCT design domains. The relationship between conflicts of interest and industry funding with the frequency of bias was examined. Results: 73 RCTs met inclusion criteria. Prevalence of low-risk bias domains was 47.3%, unclear-risk domains 47.8%, and 4.9% of the domains had a high-risk of bias. Domains with the highest risk of bias were blinding of participants/personnel and outcome assessors, followed by randomization and allocation concealment. Overtime, frequency of unclear-risk of bias domains decreased (χ<sup>2</sup> = 5.32, <i>p</i> = 0.02), whilst low and high-risk domains increased (χ<sup>2</sup> = 8.13, <i>p</i> = 0.004). Studies with conflicts of interest and industry sponsorships were 4.2 and 3.1 times more likely to have design domains with a high-risk of bias (<i>p</i> < 0.05). Conclusion: This study demonstrates that sources of potential bias are prevalent in both osteosarcoma and ES RCTs. Studies with financial conflicts of interest and industry sponsors were significantly more likely to have domains with a high-risk of bias. Improvements in reporting and adherence to proper methodology will reduce the risk of bias and improve the validity of the results of RCTs in osteosarcoma and ES. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T06:38:03Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-e8b8e7a584cb4d6e85d6c1c65b3d2c32 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1198-0052 1718-7729 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T06:38:03Z |
| publishDate | 2021-09-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Current Oncology |
| spelling | doaj.art-e8b8e7a584cb4d6e85d6c1c65b3d2c322023-11-22T17:54:57ZengMDPI AGCurrent Oncology1198-00521718-77292021-09-012853771379410.3390/curroncol28050322Assessment of Risk of Bias in Osteosarcoma and Ewing’s Sarcoma Randomized Controlled Trials: A Systematic ReviewRobert Koucheki0Aaron M. Gazendam1Jonathan R. Perera2Anthony Griffin3Peter Ferguson4Jay Wunder5Kim Tsoi6Temerty Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5S 1A8, CanadaDivision of Orthopaedic Surgery, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON L8S 4L8, CanadaRoyal National Orthopaedic Hospital, NHS Trust, Brockley Hill, Stanmore, London HA7 4LP, UKDepartment of Orthopaedic Surgery, Mount Sinai Hospital, Toronto, ON M5G 1X5, CanadaDepartment of Orthopaedic Surgery, Mount Sinai Hospital, Toronto, ON M5G 1X5, CanadaDepartment of Orthopaedic Surgery, Mount Sinai Hospital, Toronto, ON M5G 1X5, CanadaDepartment of Orthopaedic Surgery, Mount Sinai Hospital, Toronto, ON M5G 1X5, CanadaAim: The aim of this study was to systematically assess the risk of bias in osteosarcoma and Ewing’s sarcoma (ES) randomized controlled trials (RCT) and to examine the relationships between bias and conflict of interest/industry sponsorship. Methods: An OVID-MEDLINE search was performed (1976–2019). Using the Cochrane Collaboration guidelines, two reviewers independently assessed the prevalence of risk of bias in different RCT design domains. The relationship between conflicts of interest and industry funding with the frequency of bias was examined. Results: 73 RCTs met inclusion criteria. Prevalence of low-risk bias domains was 47.3%, unclear-risk domains 47.8%, and 4.9% of the domains had a high-risk of bias. Domains with the highest risk of bias were blinding of participants/personnel and outcome assessors, followed by randomization and allocation concealment. Overtime, frequency of unclear-risk of bias domains decreased (χ<sup>2</sup> = 5.32, <i>p</i> = 0.02), whilst low and high-risk domains increased (χ<sup>2</sup> = 8.13, <i>p</i> = 0.004). Studies with conflicts of interest and industry sponsorships were 4.2 and 3.1 times more likely to have design domains with a high-risk of bias (<i>p</i> < 0.05). Conclusion: This study demonstrates that sources of potential bias are prevalent in both osteosarcoma and ES RCTs. Studies with financial conflicts of interest and industry sponsors were significantly more likely to have domains with a high-risk of bias. Improvements in reporting and adherence to proper methodology will reduce the risk of bias and improve the validity of the results of RCTs in osteosarcoma and ES.https://www.mdpi.com/1718-7729/28/5/322randomized controlled trialrisk of biasosteosarcomaEwing’s sarcoma |
| spellingShingle | Robert Koucheki Aaron M. Gazendam Jonathan R. Perera Anthony Griffin Peter Ferguson Jay Wunder Kim Tsoi Assessment of Risk of Bias in Osteosarcoma and Ewing’s Sarcoma Randomized Controlled Trials: A Systematic Review Current Oncology randomized controlled trial risk of bias osteosarcoma Ewing’s sarcoma |
| title | Assessment of Risk of Bias in Osteosarcoma and Ewing’s Sarcoma Randomized Controlled Trials: A Systematic Review |
| title_full | Assessment of Risk of Bias in Osteosarcoma and Ewing’s Sarcoma Randomized Controlled Trials: A Systematic Review |
| title_fullStr | Assessment of Risk of Bias in Osteosarcoma and Ewing’s Sarcoma Randomized Controlled Trials: A Systematic Review |
| title_full_unstemmed | Assessment of Risk of Bias in Osteosarcoma and Ewing’s Sarcoma Randomized Controlled Trials: A Systematic Review |
| title_short | Assessment of Risk of Bias in Osteosarcoma and Ewing’s Sarcoma Randomized Controlled Trials: A Systematic Review |
| title_sort | assessment of risk of bias in osteosarcoma and ewing s sarcoma randomized controlled trials a systematic review |
| topic | randomized controlled trial risk of bias osteosarcoma Ewing’s sarcoma |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/1718-7729/28/5/322 |
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