Waste in covid-19 research | The BMJ

Type Journal Article Author Paul P Glasziou Author Sharon Sanders Author Tammy Hoffmann URL https://www.bmj.com/content/369/bmj.m1847 Series Editorial Publication The British Medical Journal (BMJ) Date 12/05/2020 Call Number BMJ 2020;369:m1847 DOI https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.m1847 Accessed 2020-07-05 11:16:19 Language en Abstract The medical research world is responding to the covid-19 pandemic at breathtaking speed. There has been a maelstrom of global research, with mixed consequences. Positives include the greater provision of open access to covid-19 studies, some increased collaboration, expedited governance and ethics approvals of new clinical studies, and wider use of preprints. But many problems have become evident. Before the pandemic, it was estimated that up to 85% of research was wasted because of poor questions, poor study design, inefficiency of regulation and conduct, and non or poor reporting of results.1 Many of these problems are amplified in covid-19 research, with time pressures and inadequate research infrastructure contributing.