Table 1 Participant and protocol characteristics

Participant characteristics

N = 41 (%)

 Age, median (IQR)

29 (26–33)

 Gender (female)

24 (58.5 %)

 Education (doctoral students)

14 (34.1 %)

 Frequency reading RCTs

  More than once a year

30 (73.2 %)

  Once a month

6 (14.6 %)

  Once a week

5 (12.2 %)

 Experience writing RCTs

7 (17.1 %)

 Taught about RCTs

38 (92.7 %)

 Previously involved in RCTs

18 (43.9 %)

 Familiar with guidelines

24 (58.5 %)

 Comfortable with English

26 (63.4 %)

Trial characteristics

N = 41 (%)

 Pharmacologic

24 (22.0 %)

  Medication-based

19

   Oral

7

   Intravenous/parenteral

3

   Intramuscular

2

   Subcutaneous

3

   Intradermal

1

   Radiation

3

  Strategy

4

 Non-pharmacologic, surgical

8 (19.5 %)

  Surgical procedures

4

  Implantable devices

3

 Non-pharmacologic, non-surgical

9 (58.5 %)

  Care support

5

  Psychotherapy

2

  Patient education

2

  External device

1

  Physiotherapy

1