Reporting of Observational Studies Explicitly Aiming to Emulate Randomized Trials

作者：Harrison J Hansford, Aidan G Cashin, Matthew D. Jones, Sonja A. Swanson, Nazrul Islam, Susan R. G. Douglas, Rodrigo R N Rizzo, Jack J Devonshire, Sam A Williams, Issa J Dahabreh, Barbra A. Dickerman, Matthias Egger, Xabier García‐Albéniz, Robert Golub, Sara Lodi, Margarita Moreno‐Betancur, Sallie‐Anne Pearson, Sebastian Schneeweiß, Jonathan A C Sterne, Melissa K. Sharp, Elizabeth A. Stuart, Miguel A. Hernán, Hopin Lee, James H. McAuley · 发表于：JAMA Network Open · 年份：2023 · DOI：10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2023.36023 · 被引用次数：101 · 研究领域：Meta-analysis and systematic reviews、Advanced Causal Inference Techniques、Health Policy Implementation Science

Importance: Observational (nonexperimental) studies that aim to emulate a randomized trial (ie, the target trial) are increasingly informing medical and policy decision-making, but it is unclear how these studies are reported in the literature. Consistent reporting is essential for quality appraisal, evidence synthesis, and translation of evidence to policy and practice. Objective: To assess the reporting of observational studies that explicitly aimed to emulate a target trial. Evidence Review: We searched Medline, Embase, PsycINFO, and Web of Science for observational studies published between March 2012 and October 2022 that explicitly aimed to emulate a target trial of a health or medical intervention. Two reviewers double-screened and -extracted data on study characteristics, key predefined components of the target trial protocol and its emulation (eligibility criteria, treatment strategies, treatment assignment, outcome[s], follow-up, causal contrast[s], and analysis plan), and other items related to the target trial emulation. Findings: A total of 200 studies that explicitly aimed to emulate a target trial were included. These studies included 26 subfields of medicine, and 168 (84%) were published from January 2020 to October 2022. The aim to emulate a target trial was explicit in 70 study titles (35%). Forty-three studies (22%) reported use of a published reporting guideline (eg, Strengthening the Reporting of Observational Studies in Epidemiology). Eighty-five studies...