Randomized clinical trials in US hospices: challenges and the current state of the art

Abstract

Conducting prospective studies in hospices can be difficult. We conducted a systematic review to find randomized trials that have been conducted in US hospices and to review them for quality and potential bias. Ten studies met our inclusion criteria; a wide variety of outcomes were studied. Most of the studies had at least moderate risk of bias due either to incomplete reporting of methods or the inability to blind investigators. To provide better evidence-based hospice care, more well-designed trials that are consistently reported are needed.