Assessment of the Quality of Reporting Observational Studies in the Pediatric Dental Literature

Yogita Butani; Arthur Hartz; Steven Levy; Catherine Watkins; Michael Kanellis; Arthur Nowak

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Assessment of the Quality of Reporting Observational Studies in the Pediatric Dental Literature

Journal article

Peer reviewed

Assessment of the Quality of Reporting Observational Studies in the Pediatric Dental Literature

Yogita Butani, Arthur Hartz, Steven Levy, Catherine Watkins, Michael Kanellis and Arthur Nowak

Pediatric dentistry, Vol.28(1), pp.66-71

01/01/2006

PMID: 16615378

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Abstract

Purpose: The purpose of this assessment was to evaluate reporting of observational studies in the pediatric dental literature.Methods: This assessment included the following steps: (1) developing a model for reporting information in clinical dentistry studies; (2) identifying treatment comparisons in pediatric dentistry that were evaluated by at least 5 observational studies; (3) abstracting from these studies any data indicated by applying the reporting model; and (4) comparing available data elements to the desired data elements in the reporting model.Results: The reporting model included data elements related to: (1) patients; (2) providers; (3) treatment details; and (4) study design. Two treatment comparisons in pediatric dentistry were identified with 5 or more observational studies: (1) stainless steel crowns vs amalgams (10 studies); and (2) composite restorations vs amalgam (5 studies). Results from studies comparing the same treatments varied substantially. Data elements from the reporting model that could have explained some of the variation were often reported inadequately or not at all.Conclusions: Reporting of observational studies in the pediatric dental literature may be inadequate for an informed interpretation of the results. Models similar to that used in this study could be used for developing standards for the conduct and reporting of observational studies in pediatric dentistry.

Comparative Studies

Criteria For Observational Studies

Epidemiologic Research Design

Meta-Analysis

Reporting

Reproducibility Of Results

Details

Title: Subtitle: Assessment of the Quality of Reporting Observational Studies in the Pediatric Dental Literature
Creators: Yogita Butani
Arthur Hartz
Steven Levy
Catherine Watkins
Michael Kanellis
Arthur Nowak
Resource Type: Journal article
Publication Details: Pediatric dentistry, Vol.28(1), pp.66-71
PMID: 16615378
NLM abbreviation: Pediatr Dent
ISSN: 0164-1263
eISSN: 1942-5473
Publisher: American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry
Language: English
Date published: 01/01/2006
Academic Unit: Preventive and Community Dentistry; Epidemiology; Dental Clinic Administration; Pediatric Dentistry; Family and Community Medicine
Record Identifier: 9984367642502771

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4 Times Cited - Web of Science