We are inviting you to participate in an internet-based survey that explores how randomized controlled trials in medical literature are interpreted. This survey is open to health care providers and health researchers who have not previously completed the survey and who agree that their (anonymous, aggregate) results may be used in research publications.
This study is led by a team from McMaster University in Canada. It was approved by the Hamilton Integrated Research Ethics Board, and there are no financial conflicts of interest to declare. Your participation is entirely optional.
The survey consists of reading 3 structured abstracts. You will be asked one question before each abstract and 1 or 2 questions after each abstract. You will then be asked a few questions about how you interpret the results of randomized controlled trials and few questions about your training. The entire survey should take 10 to 15 minutes to complete.
If requested, we are happy to provide you with a summary of the findings of this study at its conclusion. Please leave us your email at the end of the survey to receive the results. If you have additional questions or concerns, please feel free to email us at: themessurvey2026@gmail.com
Thank you for participating,
Michael Walsh on behalf of the THEMES team
