Frequently Asked Questions
What is PragMeta?
PragMeta is a non-commercial, open data platform and infrastructure to facilitate research on pragmatic trials. The rationale and design has been published in a peer-reviewed open access paper, doi 10.1186/s13063-023-07474-y.
What is the data flow and focus?
PragMeta collects and shares data from published randomized trials that either have a specific design feature or other characteristic related to pragmatism or they form clusters of trials addressing the same research question but having different aspects of pragmatism.
The database contains trial data actively collected for PragMeta, but also allows to import and link existing datasets of trials collected for other purposes, forming a large-scale meta-database.
We include trials that are randomized (excluding trials described as "quasi-randomized" or "controlled before and after design") and fulfill one of the following conditions: (a) ratings from established tools used to determine pragmatism available (e.g., overall or per domain PRECIS-2 score), or (b) presence of a key determinant of pragmatism (e.g., self-labeled as “pragmatic”).
There are no restrictions on publication type and year.
We captures data on (1) trial and design characteristics (e.g., sample size, population, intervention/comparison, outcome, longitudinal structure, blinding), (2) effects estimates, and (3) various determinants of pragmatism (e.g., the use of routinely collected data) and ratings from established tools used to determine pragmatism (e.g., the PRragmatic–Explanatory Continuum Indicator Summary 2; PRECIS-2).
How can I search the PragMeta database?
We provide a basic engine searching author, title, publication year, trial registry id, disease and disease type, country, and trial purpose. The number of hits will be shown below the search engine. Additionally, we provide filters for the population, intervention, comparison, and outcome characteristics as well as for our modules (see details below).
What are "Modules"?
The trials in PragMeta come from various sources, provided in a modular fashion. Such modules may have trial data that are provided (1) via linkage and import of existing datasets of trials not collected for the purpose of PragMeta or (2) actively collected for PragMeta. An overview of all modules that we currently work on is provided here.
Our modules fall into two major categories with possible overlap: (a) collections of randomized trials that all share a specific design feature or other characteristic related to pragmatism; (b) collections of systematically identified randomized trials that may share a common design feature or a common clinical question and have information available on features related to pragmatism. Examples for (a) may include randomized trials that are self-labeled as “pragmatic” and examples for (b) may include randomized trials in a systematic review that were assessed with a tool such as PRECIS-2 for pragmatism.
Do you share your data?
All data can be downloaded on our database page. Our rationale and design has been published here; the protocol and other relevant projects can be accessed on Open Science Framework.
How accurate is the data?
We aim to provide reliable data by carefully conducted extractions and data import procedures and by keeping our methods transparent. Each module has its specific data extractions and/or data import procedures that is outlined in the corresponding methodological outlines. PragMeta is managed using Directus, a free and open-source collaborative app to set up databases
Where do I find more details on PragMeta?
For more details on our work, please see the PragMeta rationale and design publication or our protocol and database procedures published on Open Science Framework. We aim to continuously upload our methods and processes.
Who is paying?
PragMeta is a non-profit initiative. The project is funded by the Swiss National Science Foundation (project 188675). The members of the PragMeta core team are supported by the Research Center for Clinical Neuroimmunology and Neuroscience Basel (RC2NB) and the Department of Clinical Research at the University of Basel.
How can I collaborate?
If you are interested in contributing to PragMeta, please send an email to lars.hemkens@usb.ch.
