Quality of reporting in abstracts in clinical trials of physical activity interventions: a cross-sectional analysis using the CONSORT for Abstracts

Aim: To investigate the quality of reporting in abstracts of randomized clinical trials (RCTs) in the physical activity field, according to adherence to the Consolidated Standards of Reporting Trials (CONSORT) for Abstracts (primary outcome), and to analyze the recommendations of the selected journals regarding the contents and structure of the abstract. Methods: This descriptive study is characterized as an extension of the Strengthening the Evidence in Exercise Sciences (SEES) Initiative, which prospectively assessed methodological and reporting standards of published trials with physical activity interventions. Eligible RCTs that had, at least, one intervention arm based on physical activity counseling or an exercise intervention program, published in 9 exercise science and 2 general medicine journals, were assessed by the SEES during the year 2019. Two researchers independently assessed the items included in the CONSORT for Abstracts and checked each journal’s instructions to authors in relation to the abstracts section. Results: 131 RCTs were eligible for evaluation in the present study. Only five papers were published in general medicine journals and 126 were published in exercise sciences journals. Of the 16 items evaluated by CONSORT for Abstracts, the items that presented the best adherence were objectives or hypothesis (99.2%), conclusion (98.4%) and intervention (93.9%). Low reporting was observed mainly in number of participants analyzed (6.1%), allocation and randomization (1.5%), and funding (0.8%). Ten journals recommended the abstract structure, but only two endorsed the CONSORT for Abstracts. Conclusion: There is variable and suboptimal adherence to the CONSORT for Abstracts checklist in trials with physical activity interventions, and poor recommendation of this instrument in the journals with substantial reach within this field. Therefore, we call editors, reviewers, and authors to consider strict adherence to CONSORT for Abstracts to increase the quality of reporting of clinical trials in the physical activity field.