An Evaluation of the Openness of COVID-19-Related Randomized Control Trials

Presentation at Medical Library Association meeting, April 29, 2022.

Objectives: Open science practices have received considerable attention during the COVID-19 pandemic. However, the openness of COVID-19-related randomized controlled trials (RCTs) has yet to be comprehensively assessed. RCTs are frequently referred to as the “gold standard” of evidence which underscores the importance of ensuring their results are rigorous and transparent.

In this observational study, we are examining the openness of COVID-19 trials along several dimensions, including open access to publications, data sharing, preregistration, and the availability of other research materials (e.g. protocols).

Methods: After identifying published reports describing the results of COVID-19-related RCTs through a comprehensive literature search, we have begun to extract information- both from the reports themselves and from additional information sources (e.g. Unpaywall)- to characterize their degree of openness.

In this presentation, we will discuss our preliminary findings as well as how we used this effort to gain experience implementing open science practices ourselves.