Evidence map›Paper›PMID 34847957›Full record

ReviewPilot and feasibility studies2021

Design, analysis, and reporting of pilot studies in HIV: a systematic review and methodological study.

Hussein Ali El-Khechen, Mohammed Inam Ullah Khan, Selvin Leenus, Oluwatobi Olaiya, Zoha Durrani, Zaryan Masood, Alvin Leenus, Shakib Akhter, Lawrence Mbuagbaw

Open access · goldAbstract readReview
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Review in Pilot and feasibility studies, 2021. 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
0.2field-weighted citation impact, top 45% of its field
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, 3 citations in OpenAlex.

  1. Article
  2. 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

9 authors at 4 institutions in 2 countries.

Hussein Ali El-KhechenDepartment of Health Research Methods, Evidence, and Impact, McMaster University, 1280 Main Street West, Hamilton, Ontario, L8S 4L8, Canada. hussein.el.khechen@mail.utoronto.ca.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-6290-4393
Mohammed Inam Ullah KhanBiostatistics Unit, Father Sean O'Sullivan Research Centre, St Joseph's Healthcare, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada.
Selvin LeenusFaculty of Health Sciences, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada.
Oluwatobi OlaiyaMichael G. DeGroote School of Medicine, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada.
Zoha DurraniJoan C. Edwards School of Medicine, Marshall University, Huntington, WV, USA.
Zaryan MasoodDepartment of Kinesiology, Faculty of Science, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada.
Alvin LeenusFaculty of Health Sciences, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada.
Shakib AkhterDepartment of Health Research Methods, Evidence, and Impact, McMaster University, 1280 Main Street West, Hamilton, Ontario, L8S 4L8, Canada.
Lawrence MbuagbawDepartment of Health Research Methods, Evidence, and Impact, McMaster University, 1280 Main Street West, Hamilton, Ontario, L8S 4L8, Canada.
McMaster University · CAImpact · CAMarshall University · USSt. Joseph’s Healthcare Hamilton · CA

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundPilot studies are essential in determining if a larger study is feasible. This is especially true when targeting populations that experience stigma and may be difficult to include in research, such as people with HIV. We sought to describe how pilot studies have been used to inform HIV clinical trials.

methodsWe conducted a methodological study of pilot studies of interventions in people living with HIV published until November 25, 2020, using Medline, Embase, and Cochrane Controlled Register of Trials (CENTRAL). We extracted data on their nomenclature, primary objective, use of progression criteria, sample size, use of qualitative methods, and other contextual information (region, income, level, type of intervention, study design).

resultsOur search retrieved 10,597 studies, of which 248 were eligible. The number of pilot studies increased steadily over time. We found that 179 studies (72.2%) used the terms "pilot" or "feasibility" in their title, 65.3% tested feasibility as a primary objective, only 2% used progression criteria, 23.9% provided a sample size estimation and only 30.2% used qualitative methods.

conclusionsPilot studies are increasingly being used to inform HIV research. However, the titles and objectives are not always consistent with piloting. The design and reporting of pilot studies in HIV could be improved.

Indexed as

Feasibility outcomeFeasibility studyHIVKey populationPilot studyProgression criteria

Identifiers

PMID34847957
PMCPMC8630899
OpenAlexW3216476631

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
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.