Results Although highlighting a general lack of high- quality real-life effectiveness observational research on these clinical ly important topics , the analysis provided insights into how identified observational studies might inform asthma guidelines developers and clinicians .
Overall , RELEVANT appeared reliable and easy to use by expert review ers .
Conclusions Using such quality appraisal tools is m and atory to assess whether specific observational real-life effectiveness studies can be used to inform guideline development and /or decision-making in clinical practice
Abstract Introduction A Task Force was commissioned jointly by the European Academy of Allergy and Clinical Immunology ( EAACI ) and the Respiratory Effectiveness Group ( REG ) to develop a  quality assessment tool for real-life observational research to identify high- quality real-life asthma studies that could be considered within future guideline development .
Improving the reporting of pragmatic trials: an extension of the CONSORT statement
Background The CONSORT statement is intended to improve reporting of r and omised controlled trials and focuses on minimising the risk of bias ( internal validity ) . The applicability of a trial ’s results ( generalisability or external validity ) is also important , particularly for pragmatic trials . A pragmatic trial ( a term first used in 1967 by Schwartz and Lellouch ) can be broadly defined as a r and omised controlled trial whose purpose is to inform decisions about practice . This extension of the CONSORT statement is intended to improve the reporting of such trials and focuses on applicability . Methods At two , two-day meetings held in Toronto in 2005 and 2008 , we review ed the CONSORT statement and its extensions , the literature on pragmatic trials and applicability , and our experiences in conducting pragmatic trials . Recommendations We recommend extending eight CONSORT checklist items for reporting of pragmatic trials : the background , participants , interventions , outcomes , sample size , blinding , participant flow , and generalisability of the findings . These extensions are presented , along with illustrative examples of reporting , and an explanation of each extension . Adherence to these reporting criteria will make it easier for decision makers to judge how applicable the results of r and omised controlled trials are to their own conditions . Empirical studies are needed to ascertain the usefulness and comprehensiveness of these CONSORT checklist item extensions . In the meantime we recommend that those who support , conduct , and report pragmatic trials should use this extension of the CONSORT statement to facilitate the use of trial results in decisions about health care . Pragmatic trials are design ed to inform decisions about practice , but poor reporting can reduce their usefulness . The CONSORT and Practihc groups describe modifications to the CONSORT guidelines to help readers assess the applicability of the
Results Although highlighting a general lack of high- quality real-life effectiveness observational research on these clinical ly important topics , the analysis provided insights into how identified observational studies might inform asthma guidelines developers and clinicians .
Overall , RELEVANT appeared reliable and easy to use by expert review ers .
Conclusions Using such quality appraisal tools is m and atory to assess whether specific observational real-life effectiveness studies can be used to inform guideline development and /or decision-making in clinical practice
Abstract Introduction A Task Force was commissioned jointly by the European Academy of Allergy and Clinical Immunology ( EAACI ) and the Respiratory Effectiveness Group ( REG ) to develop a  quality assessment tool for real-life observational research to identify high- quality real-life asthma studies that could be considered within future guideline development .