Workshop type: Training.

Objective: To provide handsearchers with the knowledge, skills and tools that they will need to successfully identify and classify study reports as either randomized controlled trials [RCT] or controlled clinical trials [CCT].

Summary:
To identify all potential primary studies for systematic reviews, it is necessary to handsearch international journals, conference proceedings and other sources to identify reports of controlled clinical trials.  Learning to differentiate randomized controlled trials (RCTs), controlled clinical trials (CCTs) and non-trials in published reports and abstracts is not always easy. This handsearch training workshop first will review the criteria for RCTs and CCTs, then use MEDLINE abstracts of trial and non-trial reports to demonstrate areas where there is confusion about study design classification, and then help explain where relevant information was described i n the abstract.

Intended audience: Handsearchers with or without previous experience in identifying and classifying trial reports.

Technical level expected of participants: Basic/Intermediate.