Open the trial's registration record and check its results section for posted outcome data, then compare those posted outcomes against any published paper; if no paper exists, cite the registration record as the source of the results. ClinicalTrials.gov defines structured registration and results fields covering study identification, status, design, eligibility, locations, outcomes, and reported results, so the results section is where posted outcome data appear when a sponsor has submitted them.
- Locate the record. Search ClinicalTrials.gov by condition, intervention, location, status, study type, or dates, or use the WHO ICTRP Search Portal, which provides a single access point for records supplied by participating registries. Confirm you have the correct trial by matching its registration identifier and title.
- Open the results section of the record. Read the posted outcomes there and note which outcomes are reported, along with the outcome measures and any reported results fields the record contains.
- Compare posted outcomes with any published paper. Check whether the outcomes reported in the paper match those posted in the registration record, and note any outcome that appears in one source but not the other.
- If no paper exists, cite the registration record itself as the source of the results, using the registration identifier so readers can retrieve the same record.
A record without a results section means no posted results are available in that record; treat the outcome data as unresolved and check the other registries indexed through the WHO ICTRP portal for a corresponding record before concluding that no results exist.