Table 1 Coding variables for clinical trials of herbal remedies and pharmaceuticals and associated newspaper articles
Coding variable: clinical trials | Herbal remedy clinical trial (N = 57) | Pharmaceutical clinical trial (N = 48) | Statistical significance |
|---|---|---|---|
Mean number of benefits | 1.6 | 1.4 | NS |
Mean number of risks | 0.9 | 1.1 | NS |
Mean sample size | 144 | 12,124 | P < 0.0001 |
Mean duration of trial (days) | 124 | 1435 | P = 0.008 |
Mean Jadad score | 3.2 | 3.1 | NS |
Dose specified | 94.7% | 72.9% | P = 0.002 |
Trial described as randomized | 78.9% | 72.9% | P = 0.001 |
Trial described as double-blind | 71.9% | 68.8% | P < 0.001 |
Withdrawals and dropouts described | 82.5% | 79.2% | NS |
Conflicts of interest NOT specified | 77.2% | 50.0% | P = 0.003 |
Funding of trial NOT specified | 33.9% | 8.3% | P = 0.004 |
Coding variable: newspaper articles | (N = 352) | (N = 201) | Â |
Mean word count | 698 | 716 | NS |
Mean number of benefits | 1.3 | 1.2 | NS |
Mean number of risks | 0.53 | 1.3 | P < 0.0001 |
Source of funding NOT specified | 83.5% | 81.6% | NS |
Conflicts of interest NOT specified | 96.6% | 96.0% | NS |
At least one scientific/technical error in reporting on the trial | 99% | 99% | NS |
Duration of the clinical trial NOT specified | 59.7% | 57.2% | NS |
Sample size NOT specified | 41.5% | 29.4% | P < 0.0001 |
Dose NOT specified | 81.0% | 95.5% | P < 0.0001 |
Location of trial NOT specified | 32.1% | 32.3% | NS |
Randomization NOT specified | 89.2% | 94.0% | NS |
Double-blinding NOT specified | 90.3% | 98.5% | P < 0.0001 |
Use of placebo NOT specified | 45.7% | 72.6% | P < 0.0001 |
Withdrawals/dropouts NOT specified | 98.0% | 97.5% | NS |