Current research topics in this research area in the Department include the following:

1. Development of new methods to translate evidence into clinical practices, applying epidemiology, statistics and psychometrics.
   • Minimally important difference estimates and methods: A protocol (Johnston et al, 2015, BMJ Open)
2. Research on research methodology
   • PROTOCOL: Exploring possible sources of bias in diagnostic test accuracy bey the QUADAS (Quality Assessment of Diagnostic Accuracy Studies): a study protocol for a meta-epidemiological study (Dr Onishi)
   • PROTOCOL: The placebo attributable fraction in general medicine: protocol for a meta-epidemiological study of Cochrane reviews (Dr Tsutsumi)
   • PROTOCOL: Can we estimate the minimal important difference from the distribution-based method? (Dr Tsujimoto)

Completed researches:

• Redundant systematic reviews on the same topic in surgery: a study protocol for a meta-epidemiological investigation (Dr Katsura)
• Sequential NMA, guidelines and real-world prescriptions (Dr Luo)
• Systematic differences in effect estimates between RCTs and observational studies in meta-analyses combining both types of studies (Dr Kimachi)
• Characteristics and publication bias of clinical trials supporting immune checkpoint inhibitors and other newest anticancer drugs recently approved by the US Food and Drug Administration: A protocol for a meta-epidemiological investigation (Dr Omae)
• Studies contributing and not contributing individual participant data (IPD) in IPD meta-analyses (Dr Tsujimoto)
• Prospective protocol registration and selective outcome reporting in recent psychiatry trials: new antidepressants and cognitive-behavior therapies (Dr Shinohara) and its Amendment
• Approximately how many patients do we need before we can be fairly certain of the treatment effect (Dr Tanio)
• Research methods employed in recent RCTs in China (Ms Tong)