Transparency, Reproducibility, and Accessibility of Clinical and Experimental Studies in Allergy (TRACES): Study design and protocol

Abstract

Background: The sphere of academia is currently confronting a “reproducibility crisis” in the fields of science and medicine, which could undermine the quality and validity of evidence used in decision-making processes. Various studies have been launched to scrutinize research transparency, reproducibility, and accessibility across multiple medical disciplines. However, these factors remain largely unexplored within the field of allergy research. Objective: This report aims to elucidate the design and protocol of the Transparency, Reproducibility, and Accessibility of Clinical and Experimental Studies in Allergy (TRACES) study. Methods: The TRACES study is a longitudinal, systematic, meta-research study conceived to measure the evolution of research transparency, reproducibility, and accessibility, as well as their associated influences. Results: All research articles published in allergy journals indexed in MEDLINE will be identified, and a random sample of 500 articles (100 from each of 5 different time points) will be retrieved and scrutinized. Various indicators of transparency, reproducibility, and accessibility will be extracted from these articles, including the following: presence of conflict of interest and funding statements; availability statements for protocols, data, materials and analysis scripts; preregistration statements; and open access status. These will be compared across the various time points sampled. The study will also delve into any characteristics that may predict improved research transparency, reproducibility, and accessibility. Conclusion: The TRACES study aims to provide valuable benchmarking data that will aid various stakeholders in the international allergy research community in enhancing research practices within the specialty.