Results publications are inadequately linked to trial registrations: An automated pipeline and evaluation of German university medical centers

Abstract

Objective To evaluate links between registration and publication across clinical trials led by German university medical centers (UMCs) and registered in either ClinicalTrials.gov or the German Clinical Trials Registry (DRKS). Inadequate links make trial publications and registrations less findable and compromise evidence synthesis and health policy decision making. The World Health Organization (WHO) and others call for better adoption of this straightforward transparency practice.