Systematic reviews: Trial registers

Trial registers are commonly searched for systematic reviews, but their relevance will depend on your topic eg:

• highly relevant when reviewing the clinical effectiveness of a medical intervention
• less relevant to a review of lived experience narratives.

Why search trial registers?

• Exploring trial registers can be particularly useful when looking for negative outcomes or reports that have not yet been published. 
• If a trial has been completed but not reported on, why might that be?
• If multiple trials of an intervention were cancelled due to poor recruitment or adverse effects, then what does that add to the published literature?
• Do publications reflect the content of trial registers? if not, why not?

Trial registers include:

• Clinicaltrials.gov
• Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry (ANZCTR)
• International Clinical Trials Registry Platform (ICTRP) 

Record your methodology

• name of register
• search query
• date searched
• number of results

Helen Wilding, Senior Research Librarian

Carl de Gruchy Library, St Vincent's Hospital Melbourne
Helen.Wilding@svha.org.au

Literature Searching, Systematic Reviews, Mental Health liaison 
Thursdays, Fridays & alternate Wednesdays
Helen's profile | Researchgate | Orcid