Evaluation of ‘Spin’ in the Abstracts and Articles of Randomized Controlled Trials in Pain Literature and General Anesthesia

Abstract

Aim: To evaluate the abstracts and articles of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) in pain literature and general anesthesia for the evidence of spin. Materials & methods: Following a priori protocol, we used a PubMed search for RCTs from a 2-year period. Data extracted using the Boutron spin definition for criteria. Results: A total of 163 articles were identified as RCTs with clear primary and secondary end points. A total of 33 trials were identified with nonsignificant primary end points. An 18/33 were found to have spin (54.5%). The spin was identified in the results, title and conclusion 12/18, 3/18 and 3/18, respectively. Conclusion: Spin was found in 54% of pain RCTs. With sensitive clinical concerns, such as chronic pain, any misrepresentation of validity could prove to have significant clinical consequences.

Keywords::

• general anesthesia
• pain
• pain management
• randomized control trials
• spin

Author contributions

Design and organization of the project contributed by C Wayant and M Vassar. Extraction of all data contributed by JW Thompson, R Tanzer and T Triska. All authors contributed to data interpretation, writing, and have given final approval on the manuscript.

Financial & competing interests disclosure

The authors have no relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript. This includes employment, consultancies, honoraria, stock ownership or options, expert testimony, grants or patents received or pending, or royalties.

No writing assistance was utilized in the production of this manuscript.