Tidsskriftet FysioterapeutenNorwegian Journal of Physiotherapy

John H. Strupstad, Scientific Editor

Implementing mandatory prospective clinical trial registration

• The ISPJE promoted a policy to implement mandatory prospective clinical trial registration among physiotherapy journals 2 years ago

• We started this policy January 1st 2014• Too early to draw the big lines, but we have some thoughts so

far in this process:

First of all…

• Our journal is relatively small compared to many of yours

• We publish approx. 15 scientific articles per year, 90 % in Norwegian (+ english abstract)

• Mostly qualitative research articles and literature studies

• But also some clinical trials

I receive

• Approx. 3-4 clinical trials each year• This number has been stable for the last five

years• In 2014, 3 such articles have been submitted

so far• Two of these were refused, due to lack of

registration• (One was refused in the review process)

Apply

• Both studies that had not registered appropriate had been registrated in the database of the Norwegian Ethics Committee

• Therefore, they applied for exemption…• …which we refused

Some thoughts

• The most experienced Norwegian researchers publish mostly in international journals

• The «fresh» researchers (MSc. students, teachers at University colleges etc.) seem to not know enough about the registration policy

• The education programs do not inform students about this policy..?

• (confirmed by three different ass. professors who I have been in touch with)

What to do

• More information about the topic in our journal

• Meet with/ email key personnel at the education programs

• Post news articles about this on our website

Last words

• The Norwegian Medical Journal have had this process going since 2007

• They still struggle with the same problem that we do, but in a lower scale

• It takes time for people to get used to new policies. Howewer, it is my duty to inform even better through our channels (journal and website)