Reporting quality and spin in abstracts of randomized clinical trials related to Oral Mucositis

Purpose : Oral mucositis is a common debilitating side effect of radiotherapy and chemotherapy in cancer patients. Numerous randomized controlled trials have examined different remedies for the management of this complication. Accurate reporting of Randomized Controlled Clinical Trials (RCTs) results in abstracts is crucial for treatment decisions. This study evaluates the reporting quality and potential spin in abstracts of RCTs addressing mucositis treatment according to MASCC/ISOO guidelines. Factors that can affect reporting quality and spin were also assessed. Methods : We systematically searched PubMed, Cochrane, and Scopus databases for RCTs related to oral mucositis treatments published until September 2024. We applied the CONSORT and SPIN checklists to assess reporting quality and spin in the abstracts. Results : Out of 112 RCTs analyzed, the overall CONSORT score for reporting quality was low, with key elements such as study design and outcome reporting frequently omitted. Only 16 RCTs were analyzed for spin, which revealed that only 2 RCTs had no spin. Higher reporting quality significantly correlated with greater word count (r=0.37, P=0.000), pharmaceutical funding compared to non-funded articles (P=0.015), and trials that were conducted in more than 1 country (P<0.03). Spin was negatively correlated with Altmetric score (r=−0.652, P=0.006). Conclusions : The reporting quality of RCT abstracts on oral mucositis interventions is severely lacking. Considerable spin also undermines the integrity of the information presented. This compromises evidence-based practice. These findings underscore the need for enhanced adherence to reporting guidelines to support evidence-based clinical practices.