Systematic Reviews and Clinical Trials in Rehabilitation: Comprehensive Analyses of Publication Trends

Publication date: Available online 15 July 2016
Source:Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation
Author(s): Tiago S. Jesus
ObjectiveTo analyze publication trends of Clinical Trials (CTs) and Systematic Reviews (SRs) in rehabilitation.DesignPubMed searches were performed with appropriate combinations of Medical Subject Headings. All entries until December 2013, and their yearly distributions since 1981 (when the first rehabilitation SR was identified), were retrieved. After the initial data visualization, data analyses were narrowed to specific time periods. Linear regression techniques analyzed the growth of publications and their relative percentages over time.SettingNot applicable.ParticipantsNot applicable.InterventionsNot applicable.Main Outcome MeasuresNot applicable.ResultsAlthough not observed for SRs, CTs have grown at a much higher rate in rehabilitation than in the broader health/medical field: more than twice the difference, for both time-periods analyzed (1989-2001; 2001-2013). Rehabilitation journals published about 20% or less of the rehabilitation SRs and CTs, and no significant increases were observed over time (p>0.05; 2001-2013). Neurological conditions, particularly cerebrovascular, were the most addressed by rehabilitation SRs & CTs, while differences between neurological and other groups of conditions typically widened over time (e.g. more than doubled between neurological and musculoskeletal conditions in 15 years).ConclusionWhile publications of CTs are increasing at a much higher rate within rehabilitation than within broader healthcare, further research is warranted to explain why this trend is not being followed by SRs, particularly those with meta-analysis. Similarly, research might determine whether the (growing) differences in the publications of rehabilitation SRs & CTs across groups of conditions are justified by clinical or population need.



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