Table 2 General characteristics of manuscripts of randomised trials (n = 197 manuscripts)
|  | WebCONSORT (n = 94) | Control (n = 103) |
|---|---|---|
Trial designa | ||
 Cluster | 4 (4%) | 4 (4%) |
 Cross over | 2 (2%) | 4 (4%) |
 Factorial | 0 (0%) | 1 (1%) |
 Non-inferiority | 7 (7%) | 3 (3%) |
 Parallel | 88 (94%) | 94 (97%) |
 Pragmatic | 15 (16%) | 11 (11%) |
 Split body | 1 (1%) | 0 (0%) |
Disease specialty (top five specialties) | ||
 Nephrology | 13 (14%) | 15 (15%) |
 Gastroenterology | 12 (13%) | 12 (12%) |
 Obstetrics & Gynaecology | 8 (8.5%) | 8 (8%) |
 Psychiatry & Psychology | 5 (5%) | 8 (8%) |
 Oncology | 7 (7%) | 3 (3%) |
Type of intervention | ||
 Drug | 40 (42.5%) | 33 (32%) |
 Surgery | 8 (8.5%) | 7 (7%) |
 Device | 14 (15%) | 13 (12.5%) |
 Rehabilitation | 5 (5%) | 7 (7%) |
 Psychological | 9 (10%) | 13 (12.5%) |
 Education | 14 (15%) | 17 (16.5%) |
 Herbal | 2 (2%) | 13 (12.5%) |
 Acupuncture | 2 (2%) | 0 |
Study centres | ||
 Single | 45 (48%) | 46 (45.5%) |
 Multi | 42 (45%) | 48 (46.5%) |
 Unclear | 7 (7%) | 9 (9%) |
Number of study groups (arms) | ||
 2 | 81 (86%) | 85 (82.5%) |
 3 | 9 (10%) | 12 (11.5%) |
 4 | 3 (3%) | 6 (6%) |
  > 4 | 1 (1%) | 0 |
Median sample size (IQR) [parallel group only] | 108 (54 to 183) | 84 (50 to 157) |
Funding | ||
 Solely industry | 10 (11%) | 11 (11%) |
 Part industry | 9 (9.5%) | 6 (6%) |
 Non industry | 47 (50%) | 55 (53%) |
 Unknown | 19 (20%) | 24 (23%) |
 None | 9 (9.5) | 7 (7%) |
Flow diagram reported in revised manuscript | ||
 Yes | 80 (85%) | 89 (86%) |
 No | 14 (15%) | 14 (14%) |
Manuscript published | ||
 Yes | 76 (81%) | 87 (84%) |
 No | 18 (19%) | 16 (16%) |