ArticleBMC medical research methodology2004
Cluster randomised trials in the medical literature: two bibliometric surveys.
Article in BMC medical research methodology, 2004. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 73 papers, 7 of them syntheses that pooled it.
What it found
Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.
The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.
Who cites it
73 citing papers in PubMed, 7 syntheses or guidelines pooled it.
- Bayesian statistics in the design and analysis of cluster randomised controlled trials and their reporting quality: a methodological systematic review.Systematic reviews · 2021Pooled it
- Pooled it
- Systematic review finds major deficiencies in sample size methodology and reporting for stepped-wedge cluster randomised trials.BMJ open · 2016Pooled it
- Psychological therapies for thalassaemia.The Cochrane database of systematic reviews · 2014Pooled it
- A systematic review of cluster randomised trials in residential facilities for older people suggests how to improve quality.BMC medical research methodology · 2013Pooled it
- Internal and external validity of cluster randomised trials: systematic review of recent trials.BMJ (Clinical research ed.) · 2008Pooled it
- Methodological bias in cluster randomised trials.BMC medical research methodology · 2005Pooled it
- Effects of a school-based physical activity intervention on children with intellectual disability: a cluster randomized trial.The international journal of behavioral nutrition and physical activity · 2025Trial
- Effects of mindfulness-based stress reduction and an organizational health intervention on Dutch teachers' mental health.Health promotion international · 2023Trial
- Randomized Controlled Study to Test the Effectiveness of Developmental Network Coaching in the Career Advancement of Diverse Early-Stage Investigators (ESIs): Implementation Challenges and Lessons Learned.International journal of environmental research and public health · 2021Trial
- Placental growth factor in assessment of women with suspected pre-eclampsia to reduce maternal morbidity: a stepped wedge cluster randomised control trial (PARROT Ireland).BMJ (Clinical research ed.) · 2021Trial
- Treatment of personality disorder using a whole of service stepped care approach: A cluster randomized controlled trial.PloS one · 2018Trial
- Adoption, reach, and implementation of a cancer education intervention in African American churches.Implementation science : IS · 2017Trial
- Trial
- Trial
- Improvement in Social Competence Using a Randomized Trial of a Theatre Intervention for Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder.Journal of autism and developmental disorders · 2016Trial
- The Seamless Transfer-of-Care Protocol: a randomized controlled trial assessing the efficacy of an electronic transfer-of-care communication tool.BMC health services research · 2012Trial
- Effect of a family focused active play intervention on sedentary time and physical activity in preschool children.The international journal of behavioral nutrition and physical activity · 2012Trial
- Assessing a risk tailored intervention to prevent disabling low back pain--protocol of a cluster randomized controlled trial.BMC musculoskeletal disorders · 2010Trial
- Efficiency of immediate postoperative inpatient physical therapy following total knee arthroplasty: an RCT.BMC musculoskeletal disorders · 2006Trial
13 more citing papers are in PubMed but not listed here.
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
1 author.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
backgroundSeveral reviews of published cluster randomised trials have reported that about half did not take clustering into account in the analysis, which was thus incorrect and potentially misleading. In this paper I ask whether cluster randomised trials are increasing in both number and quality of reporting.
methodsComputer search for papers on cluster randomised trials since 1980, hand search of trial reports published in selected volumes of the British Medical Journal over 20 years.
resultsThere has been a large increase in the numbers of methodological papers and of trial reports using the term 'cluster random' in recent years, with about equal numbers of each type of paper. The British Medical Journal contained more such reports than any other journal. In this journal there was a corresponding increase over time in the number of trials where subjects were randomised in clusters. In 2003 all reports showed awareness of the need to allow for clustering in the analysis. In 1993 and before clustering was ignored in most such trials.
conclusionCluster trials are becoming more frequent and reporting is of higher quality. Perhaps statistician pressure works.
Indexed as
Identifiers
What OpenQuestion holds
Registered trials
Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.