Our school project is a research proposal: a systematic review. We have two studies that have the same NCT. Basically, this tells me both studies use the same RCT. The first uses the first 12 weeks; the second relies heavily on the last 12, but also alludes to the RCT as a whole. My question: Can we use these two studies separately in the systematic review? Or do these need to be merged? Or can we only use one or the other? What does this mean for this project?
Will this make the project one of those projects that is pulled up in a search later on as "this is How Not to Do A Systematic Review" example?
Thanks in advance.
Hi I think it’s best to merge the two trials since the same NCT but two different time periods
Since these different two publications give you different information, you can use both the data from both publications of the same study. But there is one important rule: No data or patient will be used more than twice in one pooled analysis.
Since it's different publications, you can include both. Make sure you explain this in your review. However, being in different periods of RCT, there might be a bias due to different circumstances so you might want to do a sub-group analysis while including both trials. Good luck!
Both Dr Hongtao Tie and Mr Lowilius Wiyono were excellent and on point; I wish I could have chosen both. I chose Mr Wiyono's suggestion due to the mention of a possible need for a sub-group analysis as well as pointing out the risk of bias, which had been a very real concern.
Thank you Dr Hongtao Tie for mentioning important rule. I will keep it in mind.
Dr Steven C Y Ng , thank you for your input. I also had thought I might have to merge them.
Have a great evening.
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