Clinical trial registration: The time has come

Abstract

Note from the BJOT Editor-Chief BJOT, like many major occupational therapy and rehabilitation journals, has already adopted guidelines for reporting. Since 2015, when the journal moved to SAGE for publication, BJOT has conformed to the ICMJE requirement (International Committee of Medical Journal Editors[ICMJE], n.d.) that clinical trials are registered in a WHO-approved public trials registry at or before the time of first patient enrolment as a condition of consideration for publication (see BJOT Submission Guidelines at bjo.sagepub.com for further information). We are reprinting this editorial to join our professional colleagues at the journals listed below in explaining why registration is so important for clinical trials. In addition to publishing clinical trials, BJOT welcomes the submission of pilot/feasibility studies for clinical trials and RCT protocols and will spotlight examples in an online e-collection. Authors considering submission of a pilot or feasibility study for a future trial are not required to register this but are encouraged to contact the journal prior to submission if unsure. This editorial is reprinted from the Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, 96, 2093. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.apmr.2015.09.005 by permission.