ArticlePain and therapy2025
Adherence to CONSORT-PRO Extension Guidelines for Patient-Reported Outcomes in Randomized Controlled Trials Focused on Peripheral Nerve Blocks: A Meta-epidemiological Study.
Article in Pain and therapy, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 3 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.
What it found
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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
3 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it.
- Evaluating patient-reported outcomes in randomized controlled trials of targeted therapy and/or immunotherapy for liver cancer: a scoping review.Frontiers in oncology · 2026Pooled it
- Are we reporting well enough? A systematic survey of missing data in patient-reported outcomes from non-small cell lung cancer randomized trials.Health and quality of life outcomes · 2026Article
- Adherence to CONSORT-PRO Extension Guidelines for Patient-Reported Outcomes in Randomized Controlled Trials Focused on Peripheral Nerve Blocks: A Meta-epidemiological Study.Pain and therapy · 2025Article
Corrections and comments
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Authors and funding
14 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
introductionPatient-reported outcomes (PROs), such as peri- and postoperative pain scores, capture patient perspectives in regional anesthesia trials. However, whether these outcomes are reported according to established guidelines remains unclear. The CONSORT statement and its PRO extension (CONSORT-PRO) aim to enhance transparency in reporting PROs, yet no study has investigated adherence in peripheral nerve block (PNB) trials. Our meta-epidemiological investigation evaluated how well PNB randomized controlled trials (RCTs) adhere with CONSORT-PRO and explored whether trial characteristics affect reporting quality.
methodsWe performed a cross-sectional, meta-epidemiological study to determine adherence to CONSORT-PRO reporting guidelines in RCTs. We searched Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL), Embase, and MEDLINE for RCT publications investigating PNBs between 2006 and 2020. RCTs investigating PNBs that incorporated PROs as a primary or secondary outcome were included. All other studies, reviews, or publications without a PRO were excluded.
resultsIn total, 65 RCTs met the inclusion criteria. Mean CONSORT-PRO adherence was 46.80 ± 17.36%, and trials that designated a PRO as the primary endpoint were more adherent than those in which the PRO was secondary (49.27 ± 16.58% versus 38.57 ± 17.92%; P = 0.035). Trials with ≥ 6-month follow-up were 16.24% more adherent than those with ≤ 3-month follow-up (P = 0.006). Studies that used a visual analog scale (VAS) or numeric rating scale (NRS) in combination with other PRO instruments were significantly more adherent than trials using VAS alone (P = 0.028).
conclusionsOur meta-epidemiological review reveals substantial nonadherence to CONSORT-PRO guidelines in PNB trials. Although PROs are crucial for capturing patient-centered outcomes, they remain under-reported, especially when treated as secondary endpoints. Using diverse, validated measures beyond VAS/NRS and consistently applying CONSORT-PRO can enhance the quality, transparency, and clinical relevance of future trials. Targeted education for authors, editors, and clinicians-and expanded research on neuraxial techniques-will further strengthen reporting standards and the interpretability of anesthesia evidence.
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