Structure the triage as a fixed three-check sequence per citation—registration status, registered primary outcome, then reported outcome in the paper—and log every discrepancy with the decision taken, so the handoff note separates confirmed, conflicting, and unresolved trials. ClinicalTrials.gov defines structured registration and results fields covering study identification, status, design, eligibility, locations, outcomes, and reported results, which gives you the field set to compare against the paper. The WHO ICTRP Search Portal provides a single access point for records supplied by participating registries, so it is the place to look when a trial may be registered outside ClinicalTrials.gov.
Run the checks in order
- Confirm registration status. Search the trial identifier and title in ClinicalTrials.gov and, where the registry is unclear, the WHO ICTRP portal. Record whether a record was found, which registry supplied it, and the registration identifier. Expected result: each citation is marked registered, unregistered, or not yet located.
- Extract the registered primary outcome. Copy the primary outcome field from the registry record as written, including the measure and time frame. Expected result: a verbatim registered outcome that can be compared with the paper.
- Extract the reported outcome from the paper. Copy the primary outcome the paper states, with its measure and time frame. Expected result: a side-by-side pair of outcome statements.
- Compare and classify. Mark the trial confirmed when the registered and reported primary outcomes align, conflicting when they differ, and unresolved when no registry record was located or the record cannot be matched to the paper. Expected result: one classification per citation.
- Record the decision taken. For each conflicting or unresolved trial, write what you did next—for example, flagged for dual review, searched an additional registry, or held pending author contact—so the next reader can see the reasoning.
What the handoff note should record
Keep the note in three sections. Confirmed lists trials whose registered and reported primary outcomes align, with registry identifier and the matched outcome. Conflicting lists trials where the outcomes differ, quoting both the registered and reported wording and the decision taken. Unresolved lists trials with no located record or an unmatched record, stating which registries were searched and what verification step comes next.
For traceability, attach the search documentation the Cochrane Handbook describes—sources searched, strategies used, and how records were managed—so the synthesis team can see how each citation was located. PubMed field tags, filters, and citation matching can help you retrieve and refine the citation set before triage begins.