Characteristics of randomised controlled trials classified as ‘no concern’, ‘awaiting classification’ and ‘exclude’ (n=188)
| Study characteristics | No concern (n=109) | Awaiting classification (n=28) | Exclude (n=51) |
| Time between registration and study start (days)* | |||
| Median (IQR) | −3 (−10 to 0) | 2 (−3 to 12) | 41 (15 to 101) |
| No information | 0 | 1 | 0† |
| Time between submission and study start (days)* | |||
| Median (IQR) | −8 (−17 to −4) | −3 (−13 to 5) | 23 (9 to 88) |
| No information | 22 | 12 | 9† |
| Study duration (days)* | |||
| Median (IQR) | 281 (114 to 723) | 129 (72 to 254) | 114 (76 to 187) |
| No information | 10 | 1 | 4 |
| Sample size; randomised participants | |||
| Median (IQR) | 400 (131 to 799) | 68 (33 to 124) | 89 (58 to 155) |
| <100 participants (n=60) | 15 | 19 | 26 |
| 100 to <200 participants (n=40) | 21 | 4 | 15 |
| 200 or more participants (n=88) | 73 | 5 | 10 |
| Setting and location | |||
| Multicentre, international (n=32) | 31 | 1 | 0 |
| Multicentre, national (n=90) | 58 | 10 | 22 |
| Asia | 9 | 5 | 8 |
| Europe | 30 | 0 | 6 |
| North America | 9 | 5 | 4 |
| Africa | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| South America | 9 | 0 | 4 |
| Singlecentre (n=66) | 20 | 17 | 29 |
| Asia | 8 | 9 | 16 |
| Europe | 4 | 1 | 0 |
| North America | 2 | 3 | 1 |
| Africa | 2 | 2 | 5 |
| South America | 4 | 2 | 7 |
*According to dates from the registration record; in case of multiple registrations, we used the trial registration record referenced in the publication. Time was measured between submission/registration and study start. Study start was defined as time point 0. Negative days indicate ’registration/submission before study start’ and positive days indicate ’registration/submission after study start’.
†Only registered studies and according to registration record.