Abstract
Background Exercise interventions are often incompletely described in reports of clinical trials, hampering evaluation of results and replication and implementation into practice.
Objective The aim of this study was to develop a standardized method for reporting exercise programs in clinical trials: the Consensus on Exercise Reporting Template (CERT).
Design and Methods Using the EQUATOR Network's methodological framework, 137 exercise experts were invited to participate in a Delphi consensus study. A list of 41 items was identified from a meta-epidemiologic study of 73 systematic reviews of exercise. For each item, participants indicated agreement on an 11-point rating scale. Consensus for item inclusion was defined a priori as greater than 70% agreement of respondents rating an item 7 or above. Three sequential rounds of anonymous online questionnaires and a Delphi workshop were used.
Results There were 57 (response rate=42%), 54 (response rate=95%), and 49 (response rate=91%) respondents to rounds 1 through 3, respectively, from 11 countries and a range of disciplines. In round 1, 2 items were excluded; 24 items reached consensus for inclusion (8 items accepted in original format), and 16 items were revised in response to participant suggestions. Of 14 items in round 2, 3 were excluded, 11 reached consensus for inclusion (4 items accepted in original format), and 7 were reworded. Sixteen items were included in round 3, and all items reached greater than 70% consensus for inclusion.
Limitations The views of included Delphi panelists may differ from those of experts who declined participation and may not fully represent the views of all exercise experts.
Conclusions The CERT, a 16-item checklist developed by an international panel of exercise experts, is designed to improve the reporting of exercise programs in all evaluative study designs and contains 7 categories: materials, provider, delivery, location, dosage, tailoring, and compliance. The CERT will encourage transparency, improve trial interpretation and replication, and facilitate implementation of effective exercise interventions into practice.
Footnotes
Dr Slade, Professor Dionne, Professor Underwood, and Professor Buchbinder designed the study and survey tool, drafted the manuscript with input from all other authors, and performed data analysis. Dr Slade was responsible for implementing the survey. All authors read and approved the final manuscript.
The authors thank Dr Bianca Bendermacher (the Netherlands), Professor Jill Cook (Australia), Associate Professor Kjartan Fersum (Norway), Dr Lora Giangregorio (Canada), Professor Jan Hartvigan (Denmark), Dr Melanie Holden (United Kingdom), Associate Professor Per Kjaer (Denmark), Professor Donna MacIntyre (Canada), Dr Nathan Meier (United States), Professor Nicholas Taylor (Australia), and Dr Flavia Vital (Brazil) for their contributions to the study.
Peer Reviewers: Belinda Beck (Australia), Kim Bennell (Australia), Lucie Brosseau (Canada), Jill Cook (Australia), Leonardo Costa (Brazil), Fiona Cramp (United Kingdom), Edith Cup (United Kingdom), Lynne Feehan (Canada), Manuela Ferreira (Australia), Scott Forbes (Canada), Paul Glasziou (Australia), Bas Habets (the Netherlands), Susan Harris (Canada), Jan Hartvigan (Denmark), Jean Hay-Smith (New Zealand), Susan Hillier (Australia), Rana Hinman (Australia), Ann Holland (Australia), Maria Hondras (Denmark), George Kelly (United States), Peter Kent (Denmark), Per Kjaer (Denmark), Gert-Jan Lauret (the Netherlands), Audrey Long (Canada), Chris Maher (Australia), Lars Morso (Denmark), Nina Osteras (Norway), Tom Peterson (Denmark), Ros Quinlivan (United Kingdom), Karen Rees (United Kingdom), Jean-Philippe Regnaux (France), Marc Rietberg (the Netherlands) Dave Saunders (United Kingdom), Nicole Skoetz (Denmark), Karen Sogaard (Denmark), Tim Takken (the Netherlands), Nicholas Taylor (Australia), Maurits van Tulder (the Netherlands), Nicoline Voet (the Netherlands), Lesley Ward (New Zealand), Claire White (United Kingdom).
This research project was funded by Arthritis Australia (Philip Benjamin, Grant No: 2014GIA03). Professor Buchbinder is funded by an Australian National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) Senior Principal Research Fellowship.
- Received December 10, 2015.
- Accepted April 28, 2016.
- © 2016 American Physical Therapy Association