Misreporting study results in main texts and abstracts of randomized controlled trials published by physical therapy researchers (SPIN)

Abstract

BACKGROUND: The distortion of truth or “spin” has become a major concern in various fields as it can affect the accuracy of research dissemination. Recognizing the extent of this issue in physiotherapy research is essential for promoting good-quality research and raising awareness. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to determine the prevalence of spin in randomized controlled trials (RCTs) published by Indian physiotherapists. METHODS: A Medline search was conducted to identify RCTs published by Indian physiotherapists from January 2000 to November 2018. We included studies with nonsignificant primary outcomes and reviewed them for spin in both abstracts and full texts using the Boutron checklist. Three reviewers were involved in the process. RESULTS: Of the 44 RCTs with nonsignificant outcomes, 40 (90%) showed spin in their abstracts and 39 (88%) in their main text conclusions. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings reveal a significant prevalence of spin in nonsignificant RCTs published by physiotherapy researchers. Improving research knowledge, enhancing scientific writing skills, and providing mentorship may help reduce spin in result reporting.