Comparator choice in cariology trials limits conclusions on the comparative effectiveness of caries interventions

Schwendicke, Falk, Innes, Nicola ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9984-0012, Levey, Colin and Lamont, Thomas 2017. Comparator choice in cariology trials limits conclusions on the comparative effectiveness of caries interventions. Journal of Clinical Epidemiology 89 , pp. 209-217. 10.1016/j.jclinepi.2017.05.019

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Abstract

Comparator choice has been found one major factor impacting on the overall evidence supporting clinical interventions. We performed social network analysis on trials on the prevention/management of caries/carious lesions, hypothesizing that certain comparators are proportionally over-investigated, and others under-investigated, and that comparisons within comparator classes are preferred over comparisons between classes. A systematic review of randomized controlled trials on the prevention/management of caries/existing carious lesions was carried out. All comparators were classified at each of three levels of granularity, becoming more detailed with each level; (a) degree of invasiveness (non-, micro- or invasive), (b) the specific non-invasive, micro-invasive or invasive approach, (c) the actual material or technique used. Social network analysis was used to evaluate trial networks. Searching electronic databases found 4,774 articles of which 765 were relevant and 605 were included. The networks for all levels were polygonal. There was a high degree of separation of comparisons in prevention versus management trials. Invasive comparators were tested most frequently (number of comparators: 611), mainly in management trials. Non-invasive comparators were tested next often (474), mainly in caries prevention. Micro-invasive strategies were tested next often (233), in both prevention and management trials. On more granular levels, few interventions dominated the networks. Regardless of the level, the majority of trials compared within, not between classes. Prevention trials were mainly conducted in children (number of trials in adults/children/both: 37/241/11), while those on managing lesions were conducted in both children and adults (117/179/21). Comparator choice in cariology trials is driven by indication, and limits conclusions on the true comparative effectiveness of all strategies. There are a variety of comparators that have not been, but should be, compared to one another, which should be addressed by future trials. Factors underlying trialists’ comparator choice need to be identified.

Item Type:	Article
Date Type:	Publication
Status:	Published
Schools:	Dentistry
Publisher:	Elsevier
ISSN:	0895-4356
Date of Acceptance:	29 May 2017
Last Modified:	07 Nov 2022 11:06
URI:	https://orca.cardiff.ac.uk/id/eprint/134500

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