The most under-reported items were concealment of allocation , blinding of patients and outcome assessors , intention to treat and validation of outcomes .
BACKGROUND In the process of conducting a systematic review on interventions for skin lesions due to neuritis in leprosy , we assessed several primary papers with respect to the quality of reporting and methods used in the studies .
Awareness of what constitutes weak points in previously conducted studies may be used to improve the planning , conducting and reporting of future clinical trials .
AIMS To assess the quality of reporting and of methodology  in studies of interventions for skin lesions due to neuritis in leprosy .
[Effect of zinc oxide tape on plantar ulcers in leprosy patients in Indonesia].
In this investigation the effectiveness was studied of adhesive zinc oxide tape , as additional therapy to the usual application of povidone iodine ( 10 % ) , for leprosy patients with plantar ulcers in Sulawesi Tengah , Indonesia . The effectiveness ( degree of wound healing measured as surface reduction ) of this experimental therapy was compared with that of the usual therapy alone . At the same time the influence of the physical activity level on the effectiveness of both therapies was studied . During six weeks 38 leprosy patients with simple ulcers were treated with either one of the therapies . The average wound healing of the experimental group and the control group was 388 mm2 ( SD 498 ) and 260 mm2 ( SD 260 ) respectively . Using the t-test , there was no statistically significant difference in wound healing between the two therapies ( p = 1.7 ) . The average wound healing of the experimental group with a high and a low activity level was 342 mm2 ( SD 226 ) and 405 mm2 ( SD 571 ) respectively . The average wound healing of the control group with a high and low activity level was 246 mm2 ( SD 289 ) and 275 mm2 ( SD 232 ) respectively . Using analyses of variance , there was no statistically significant influence on the effectiveness of the therapies ( p greater than 0.1 ) . Method ological problems possibly influenced on the results . Different problems which may be encountered during research in third world countries are mentioned
The most under-reported items were concealment of allocation , blinding of patients and outcome assessors , intention to treat and validation of outcomes .
BACKGROUND In the process of conducting a systematic review on interventions for skin lesions due to neuritis in leprosy , we assessed several primary papers with respect to the quality of reporting and methods used in the studies .
Awareness of what constitutes weak points in previously conducted studies may be used to improve the planning , conducting and reporting of future clinical trials .
AIMS To assess the quality of reporting and of methodology  in studies of interventions for skin lesions due to neuritis in leprosy .