Evidence map›Paper›PMID 30430384›Full record

SynthesisLa Radiologia medica2019

Evaluation of Italian radiotherapy research from 1985 to 2005: preliminary analysis.

Alba Fiorentino, Rosario Mazzola, Valentina Lancellotta, Simonetta Saldi, Sara Chierchini, Anna Rita Alitto, Paolo Borghetti, Fabiana Gregucci, Michele Fiore, Isacco Desideri and 4 more

Abstract readSystematic Review
PubMed Publisher
In one paragraph

Synthesis in La Radiologia medica, 2019. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 2 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
2citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from 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.

2 · The registry

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.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

2 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Article
  2. Cancer patients in Covid-19 era: Swimming against the tide.Radiotherapy and oncology : journal of the European Society for Therapeutic Radiology and Oncology · 2020
    Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

14 authors.

Alba FiorentinoRadiotherapy Oncology Department, General Regional Hospital "F. Miulli", Strada Prov. 127 km 4, 70021, Acquaviva delle Fonti, Bari, Italy. albafiorentino@hotmail.it.
Rosario MazzolaRadiotherapy Oncology Department, Sacro Cuore Don Calabria Hospital, Negrar, Verona, Italy.
Valentina LancellottaRadiation Oncology Section, University of Perugia, Perugia, Italy.
Simonetta SaldiRadiation Oncology Section, University of Perugia, Perugia, Italy.
Sara ChierchiniRadiation Oncology Section, University of Perugia, Perugia, Italy.
Anna Rita AlittoRadiotherapy Oncology Department, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli IRCCS, UOC Radioterapia, Rome, Italy.
Paolo BorghettiRadiation Oncology Department University and Spedali Civili, Brescia, Italy.
Fabiana GregucciRadiotherapy Oncology Department, General Regional Hospital "F. Miulli", Strada Prov. 127 km 4, 70021, Acquaviva delle Fonti, Bari, Italy.
Michele FioreRadiation Oncology, Campus Bio-Medico University, Rome, Italy.
Isacco DesideriDepartment of Biomedical, Experimental and Clinical Sciences "Mario Serio", Section of Radiation Oncology, University of Florence, Florence, Italy.
Lorenza MarinoRadiotherapy Oncology Department, REM, Viagrande, Catania, Italy.
Daniela GretoDepartment of Biomedical, Experimental and Clinical Sciences "Mario Serio", Section of Radiation Oncology, University of Florence, Florence, Italy.
Giovanni Domenico TebalaSurgical Department, East Kent Hospitals University NHS Foundation Trust, Ashford, UK.
AIRO Giovani - Italian Association of Radiation Oncology-Young Members Working Group

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

aimThe difficulty in conducting meaningful clinical research is a multifactorial issue, involving political, financial and cultural problems, which can lead to unexpected negative long-term consequences, in terms of knowledge advancement and impact on patient care. The aims of the present review were to evaluate the publications of Italian radiotherapy (RT) groups during a 20-year period and to verify whether research is still appealing to young radiation oncologists (ROs) in Italy.

methodsPubMed database was searched for English-language articles published by Italian groups from January 1985 to December 2005. Analyzed variables were: publication/year, kind of study, geographical area and age of the first author.

resultsThe systematic review identified 3291 articles: 1207 papers fulfilled the inclusion criteria. The number of Italian published papers increased during the examined period. Retrospective analyses, prospective phase I-II trials and literature reviews were 44, 20 and 14.5% of all published manuscripts, respectively. Randomized trials showed a mild increase from 2000 to 2005, but their absolute number remained low respect to other types of studies (4%). Northern Italy produced the very most of Italian research papers (58.7%). The age of the first/second author was evaluated on 716 papers: In more than 50% of cases, the first author was younger than 40.

conclusionDespite a general gradual improvement, RT clinical research suffers in Italy (as elsewhere) from insufficient funding, with a negative impact on evidence production. It is worth noting that clinical research is still appealing and accessible to junior Italian RO.

Indexed as

RadiotherapyBiomedical ResearchHumansItalyTime FactorsItalianRadiotherapyResearch

Identifiers

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

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.