Motrial - An Academic and Collaborative Search Engine Dedicated to Behavioural and/or Public Health Intervention Publications

Abstract

Abstract Issue/problem Trials are the most reliable source of evidence on the efficacy, safety and cost-effectiveness of interventions aimed at preventing, caring or curing. Their number in the field of non-pharmacological interventions (NPIs), especially behavioural interventions, has increased exponentially since 2000. Their methodology is improving with the support of several organisations such as CONSORT, SPIRIT, TIDieR, PRISMA and IBTN. They can fuel meta-analyses and systematic reviews in return of better quality. Description of the problem One of the difficulties in carrying out these meta-syntheses is the exhaustive and relevant search of trials. Publications are not always identified in biomedical databases (e.g., PubMed, Embase). New article publishing offers are available to authors such as Open Access journals (e.g., PLOS One, Scientific Reports, Helyion, JAMA Network Open). Data collection of trials is more difficult, longer and subject to biases. Results The Plateforme CEPS, which has the general objective of encouraging clinical trials on NPIs, has created a search engine that makes it easier to find these trials. Motrial (www.motrial.fr) distinguishes the main publication from secondary publications and duplicates. It indicates whether the trial has been declared to an ethics committee, registered to the competent authorities and received funding. This academic search engine in English is free. The search can be configured with methodological and ontological criteria. If not already done, the user is invited to join the main publication of the trial with the declaration of its protocol to an official instance. Motrial displays the main characteristics of the trial and its main publication. Each request can be saved, modified, completed. Lessons Data collection of non-pharmacological intervention trials is difficult, long, and subject to biases. The free and academic meta-search engine Motrial is a tool that helps to advance knowledge utilisation.