Chattopadhyay Arhana, Wu Robin, Wan Derrick, Momeni Arash
Division of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Stanford University School of Medicine, Palo Alto, Calif.
Plast Reconstr Surg Glob Open. 2021 May 24;9(5):e3588. doi: 10.1097/GOX.0000000000003588. eCollection 2021 May.
An increase in the number and quality of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and trends toward higher levels of evidence (LOE) in the plastic surgery literature has been reported; however, there has not been a specific focus on the LOE of presentations at scientific meetings. The purpose of this study was to ascertain trends in the LOE of studies presented at the annual meeting of the American Association of Plastic Surgeons.
A hand search was conducted identifying all abstracts of podium presentations from 2009 to 2019. LOE, using American Society of Plastic Surgeons guidelines, were ascribed to each presentation, along with identification of any corresponding journal publications. RCTs were further analyzed using the 12-item Modified Consolidated Standard of Reporting Trials checklist.
Four hundred forty-one studies with a median LOE of 3 were included in the study. A non-significant improvement in the mean level of evidence was noted over time ( 0.09) along with an increase in the number of level 2 studies ( 0.589) and RCTs ( 0.717). Level 1 studies were rare (0.91%) and of fair quality (median checklist score 8 out of 12). Seventy-two percent of abstracts resulted in publication, and the mean lag time to publication was 422 days.
A favorable trend is observed with respect to the mean LOE as well as the number of level 2 studies and RCTs over time. The importance of research meeting attendance to maintain up-to-date information is noteworthy, given the long lag time from presentation to publication.
据报道，整形外科学术文献中随机对照试验（RCT）的数量和质量有所增加，且证据水平（LOE）有向更高水平发展的趋势；然而，尚未特别关注科学会议上报告的证据水平。本研究的目的是确定在美国整形外科学会年会上报告的研究的证据水平趋势。
通过人工检索，识别出2009年至2019年所有讲台报告的摘要。根据美国整形外科学会的指南，为每个报告确定证据水平，并识别任何相应的期刊出版物。使用12项改良的综合报告试验标准清单对随机对照试验进行进一步分析。
本研究纳入了441项研究，证据水平中位数为3。随着时间的推移，平均证据水平有不显著的提高（0.09），2级研究数量增加（0.589），随机对照试验数量增加（0.717）。1级研究很少（0.91%），质量一般（清单中位数得分12分中的8分）。72%的摘要发表了，平均发表滞后时间为422天。
随着时间的推移，平均证据水平以及2级研究和随机对照试验的数量呈现出良好的趋势。鉴于从报告到发表的滞后时间较长，参加研究会议以保持最新信息的重要性值得注意。
