Stopping randomized trials early for benefit: a protocol of the Study Of Trial Policy Of Interim Truncation-2 (STOPIT-2).

Background: Randomized clinical trials (RCTs) stopped early for benefit often receive great attention and affect clinical practice, but pose interpretational challenges for clinicians, researchers, and policy makers. Because the decision to stop the trial may arise from catching the treatment effect at a random high, truncated RCTs (tRCTs) may overestimate the true treatment effect. The Study Of Trial Policy Of Interim Truncation (STOPIT-1), which systematically reviewed the epidemiology and reporting quality of tRCTs, found that such trials are becoming more common, but that reporting of stopping rules and decisions were often deficient.

Collection and use of cancer family history in primary care.

Objectives: This systematic review was undertaken to: (1) evaluate the accuracy of patient reporting of cancer family history, (2) identify and evaluate tools designed to capture cancer family history that are applicable to the primary care setting, and (3) identify and evaluate risk assessment tools (RATs) in promoting appropriate management of familial cancer risk in primary care settings.

Data Sources: MEDLINE, EMBASE, CINAHL, and Cochrane Central from 1990 to July 2007.

Review Methods: Standard systematic review methodology was employed.