Background: Eczema (syn. Atopic Eczema or Atopic Dermatitis) is a chronic, relapsing, itchy skin condition which\nprobably results from a combination of genetic and environmental factors. The Global Resource of EczemA Trials\n(GREAT) is a collection of records of randomised controlled trials (RCTs) for eczema treatment produced from a\nhighly sensitive search of six reference databases. We sought to assess the sensitivity of the GREAT database as a\ntool to save future researchers repeating extensive bibliographic searches.\nMethods: All Cochrane systematic review on treatments for eczema and five non-Cochrane systematic reviews on\neczema were identified as a reference set to assess the utility of the GREAT database in identifying randomised\ncontrolled trials (RCTs). RCTs included in the systematic reviews were checked for inclusion in the GREAT database\nby two independent authors. A third author resolved any disagreements.\nResults: Five Cochrane and six non-Cochrane systematic reviews containing a total of 105 RCTs of eczema treatments\nwere included. Of these, 95 fitted the inclusion criteria for the GREAT database and 88 were published from 2000\nonwards. Of the 88 eligible studies, 92% were found in the GREAT database. Seven trials were not included in the\nGREAT database - two of these were reported within a review paper and one as an abstract with no trial results.\nConclusions: The sensitivity of the GREAT database for trials from 2000 onwards was high (75/88 trials, 94%). Sensitivity\nfor the period prior to 2000 was less sensitive, due to differences in how the trials were identified prior to this time.\nââ?¬Ë?Dualââ?¬â?¢ filtering for new records has recently become part of the GREAT database methodology and should further\nimprove the sensitivity of the database in time. The GREAT database can be considered as a primary source for future\nsystematic reviews including randomised controlled trials of eczema treatments, but searches should be supplemented\nby checking reference lists for eligible trials, searching trial registries and contacting pharmaceutical companies for\nunpublished studies.
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