The influence of the statistical significance of results and spin on readers’ interpretation of the results in an abstract for a hypothetical clinical trial: A randomized trial

Objectives: To assess the impact on readers’ interpretation of the results reported in an abstract for a hypothetical clinical trial with 1) a statistically significant result, 2) spin, 3) both a statistically significant result and spin compared to 4) no spin and no statistically significant result. Participants: Health students and professionals from universities and health institutions in France and the UK. Interventions: Participants completed an online questionnaire using Likert scales and free text, after reading one of the four versions of an abstract about a hypothetical randomized trial evaluating “Naranex” and “Bulofil” (two hypothetical drugs) for chronic low back pain. The abstracts differed in a) reported result of “mean difference of 1.31 points (95%CI 0.08 to 2.54; p= 0.04)“ or “mean difference of 1.31 points (95%CI -0.08 to 2.70; p= 0.06)” and b) presence or absence of spin. The effect size for the trial’s primary outcome (pain disability score) was the same in each abst...