Examples of poor reporting of intervention elements within the HTA journal series, taken verbatim form the journal
| Checklist item | Examples of poor reporting | Reason why rated as incomplete | Examples of good reporting | Reason why rated complete |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Inclusion criteria | ‘…patient identification was retrospective. Searches were conducted on practice databases using either repeat prescriptions alone or repeat prescriptions plus diagnostic terms… GPs then sent letters to suitable patients, providing information about the trial’ | No details given about the searches and the criteria patients were screened with | Inclusion criteria for trial patients were: ▸ Diagnosed with idiopathic arthritides of childhood with onset before their 16th birthday for more than 3 months ▸ Aged 4–19 years inclusive ▸ Stable on medication ▸ At least one active joint, core set criteria 1.56 ▸ At least two of any five of the remaining core set criteria below ▸ The physician global assessment of disease activity >10 mm on a 100-mm VAS ▸ The parent global assessment of well-being >10 mm on a 100-mm VAS ▸ Childhood Health Assessment Questionnaire scores >0 ▸ More than one joint with limited range of motion (joint motion reduced by at least 5° from normative range for age58) ▸ An elevated ESR (>5 mm Hg in children and >10 mm Hg in adolescents) | Very detailed patient criteria listed |
| Exclusion criteria | ‘GPs were given a ringbinder file with information and instructions about the trial and, within each, a number of recruitment packs. The packs contained the paperwork required to complete the recruitment of each patient, this was: a reminder of the inclusion/exclusion criteria for the study….’ | No details given about the exclusion criteria | Reasons for exclusion (yes/no) ▸ BMI >40 kg/m2 ▸ Barrett's oesophagus (≥3 cm) ▸ Paraoesophageal hernia ▸ Oesophageal strictures ▸ One type of management is clinically indicated for another reason | Detailed patient exclusion criteria listed |
| Provider | ‘All services had staff who were trained and experienced in family therapy, but not necessarily family interventions specifically for eating disorders’ | No details about the staff providing the interventions or the training they received | Eight counsellors (six females and two males) took part in the trial (one worked at two practices) and all were BACP accredited or eligible for BACP accreditation; they were highly trained and had considerable experience of counselling in a general practice setting (there are details about each counsellors age, qualifications and experience are provided) | States who delivered the intervention and their training |
| Procedure | ‘Generally home-based rehabilitation services provide, as a minimum, physiotherapy and occupational therapy in the patient's own home. Services can be specialised (eg, in stroke rehabilitation) or be provided for patients with a range of disabilities’ | No details about the services provided to patients and variation between centres | The content of the CBT programme included (complete course description contained within an appendix): ▸ Elucidation of core beliefs regarding their illness and its management ▸ Monitoring of activity levels and introduction of appropriate timetable ▸ Introduction to exercises designed to increase general level of fitness, balance and confidence in exercise. A range of aerobic, strength, balance and stretching exercises were taught ▸ Behavioural modification of sleep patterns ▸ Mood management advice ▸ Goal setting | Key aspects of the intervention summarised in the text and a full description of the intervention is detailed in the appendices |
| Intensity and schedule | ‘Patients come to the day hospital where the rehabilitation service is provided for a full or half day. Usually ambulance transport is provided to bring patients into the service and return them home after a session’ | No details of the length or number of sessions | Psychological treatment was based on existing protocols (references included) and distributed over six 50-minute sessions, with printed information sheets provided after each session | The length and number of sessions is included as well as the details of each session |
| Materials—physical | ‘The acupuncture point prescriptions used were individualised to each patient and were at the discretion of the acupuncturist’ | The prescriptions used are not detailed | ▸ 500 mg oral oxytetracycline (non-proprietary) twice daily+topical vehicle control twice daily ▸ 100 mg oral Minocin MR minocycline) once daily+topical vehicle control twice daily ▸ Topical Panoxyl Aquagel (5% benzoyl peroxide) twice daily+oral placebo once daily. This was designated as the active comparator group, as benzoyl peroxide was the leading and most established topical treatment for acne when the protocol was written ▸ Topical Benzamycin (3% erythromycin+5% benzoyl peroxide) twice daily+oral placebo once daily (referred to as ery.+BP twice daily) ▸ Topical Stiemycin (2% erythromycin) once daily+topical Panoxyl Aquagel (5% benzoyl peroxide) once daily+oral placebo once daily (referred to as ery. once daily+ BP once daily) | Each of the treatments prescribed is clearly defined |
BACP, British Association for Counselling & Psychotherapy; BP, blood pressure; CBT, cognitive behavioural therapy; ESR, erythrocyte sedimentation rate; GP, general practitioner; HTA, Health Technology Assessment; VAS, visual analogue scale.