From: Guidelines for randomized clinical trial protocol content: a systematic review
Characteristic | N (%) |
---|---|
  Methods described (any) |  |
   Yes | 8 (20) |
   None reported | 19 (48) |
   Unclear* | 13 (33) |
  Consensus process | 6 (15) |
   Formal (for example, Delphi) | 0 (0) |
   Informal consensus and/or consensus meeting(s) | 4 (10) |
  Pilot testing | 2 (5) |
  Validation |  |
   Formal validation | 1 (3) |
   Informal validation - shared with a broader circle of experts (for example, for face validity) | 5 (13) |
   Future plans to validate | 1 (3) |
  Search for existing guidance/evidence to inform guideline recommendations |  |
   Yes | 2 (5) |
     Search for previous guidelines | 2 (5) |
        Systematic | 0 (0) |
     Search for empirical evidence | 1 (3) |
        Systematic | 0 (0) |
   None reported | 34 (85) |
   At least one empirical study referenced to support at least one guideline item - methods of searching not reported | 3 (8) |
   Unclear | 1 (3) |
  Number of authors/stated contributors - median (IQR); range | 2 (1, 3); 1 to 88 |
   Not stated | 11 (28) |
  Time frame for guideline development (years) [n = 4 guidelines] - median (IQR); range | 4 (2, 4); 1 to 5 |