CONSORT 2010 Statement: Updated guidelines for reporting parallel group randomized trials

TL;DR: R controlled trials, when appropriately designed, conducted, and reported, represent the gold standard in evaluating healthcare interventions, however, randomized trials can yield biased results if they lack methodological rigour.

Abstract: R controlled trials, when appropriately designed, conducted, and reported, represent the gold standard in evaluating healthcare interventions. However, randomized trials can yield biased results if they lack methodological rigour.1 To assess a trial accurately, readers of a published report need complete, clear, and transparent information on its methodology and findings. Unfortunately, attempted assessments frequently fail because authors of many trial reports neglect to provide lucid and complete descriptions of that critical information.2–4 That lack of adequate reporting fuelled the development of the original CONSORT (Consolidated Standards of Reporting Trials) statement in 19965 and its revision five years later.6–8 While those statements See related editorial on page 892.