Sally Hopewell

MSc, DPhil

Professor of Clinical Trials and Evidence Synthesis

Theme Lead for Clinical Trials

My key areas of research expertise are in the design, conduct and transparent reporting of randomized trials and systematic reviews. I have published a number of research studies in these areas including the development of key reporting guidelines such as the CONSORT Statement and PRISMA for Abstracts.

I joined OCTRU in February 2015, where I am involved in leading the design and delivery of clinical trials within the OCTRU portfolio. I am co-chief investigator on several NIHR funded trials for interventions for people with shoulder pain and impaired shoulder function and co-investigator on a number of other NIHR funded trials and evidence syntheses.

Previously, I worked at the Centre for Statistics in Medicine (2007 – 2015) on an MRC-funded programme of research related to CONSORT and the conduct and reporting of clinical trials. I also worked, and continue to collaborate with, the Centre d’Epidemiologie Clinique (2012 – present), University Paris Descartes, on research activities related to the methodology of systematic reviews and randomized trials.

Prior to this I worked at the UK Cochrane Centre (2004 – 2012) and with the NHS National Blood Service (2010 – 2012) systematic review programme. In 2005, I was awarded a D.Phil at the University of Oxford on research into the effects of unpublished data in systematic reviews.

I have a particular interest in clinical trial registration, data sharing, transparent reporting of trial protocols, development of core outcome sets, pilot trials and trials of complex interventions. I am a member of the advisory board for Current Controlled Trials, a member of the NIHR Health Technology Assessment Clinical Evaluation and Trials Board and member of the NIHR Open Research Advisory Board. I regularly carry out peer review for high impact medical journals and various funding bodies (e.g. NIHR and Medical Research Council).

Key publications

Progressive exercise compared with best practice advice, with or without corticosteroid injection, for the treatment of patients with rotator cuff disorders (GRASP): a multicentre, pragmatic, 2 × 2 factorial, randomised controlled trial.
Journal article

Hopewell S. et al, (2021), Lancet, 398, 416 - 428
Guidelines for Reporting Trial Protocols and Completed Trials Modified Due to the COVID-19 Pandemic and Other Extenuating Circumstances: The CONSERVE 2021 Statement.
Journal article

Orkin AM. et al, (2021), Jama
TIDieR-Placebo: A guide and checklist for reporting placebo and sham controls.
Journal article

Howick J. et al, (2020), Plos med, 17
Reporting of Multi-Arm Parallel-Group Randomized Trials: Extension of the CONSORT 2010 Statement.
Journal article

Juszczak E. et al, (2019), Jama, 321, 1610 - 1620
RoB 2: a revised tool for assessing risk of bias in randomised trials.
Journal article

Sterne JAC. et al, (2019), Bmj, 366

Recent publications

Anti-TNF (adalimumab) injection for the treatment of adults with frozen shoulder during the pain predominant stage protocol for a multi-centre, randomised, double blind, parallel group, feasibility trial
Journal article

Hopewell S. et al, (2022), Nihr open research, 2, 28 - 28
How are progression decisions made following external randomised pilot trials? A qualitative interview study and framework analysis.
Journal article

Mellor K. et al, (2022), Trials, 23
Outcomes of importance to children and young adults with cerebral palsy, their parents and health professionals following lower limb orthopaedic surgery: A qualitative study to inform a Core Outcome Set.
Journal article

Almoajil H. et al, (2022), Health expect
Exploring the factors that influence stakeholders’ expectations and subsequent perception of lower limb orthopaedic surgical outcomes for ambulant children with cerebral palsy – a qualitative study
Journal article

Almoajil H. et al, (2022), Disability and rehabilitation, 1 - 8
The need for reporting guidelines for early phase dose-finding trials: Dose-Finding CONSORT Extension.
Journal article

Yap C. et al, (2022), Nat med
A feasibility study to assess the design of a multicentre randomized controlled trial of the clinical and cost-effectiveness of a caregiving intervention for people following hip fracture surgery.
Journal article

Smith T. et al, (2021), Bone jt open, 2, 909 - 920
Reliability of Trial Information Across Registries for Trials With Multiple Registrations: A Systematic Review.
Journal article

Speich B. et al, (2021), Jama netw open, 4
Patient-reported outcome measures following revision knee replacement: a review of PROM instrument utilisation and measurement properties using the COSMIN checklist.
Journal article

Sabah SA. et al, (2021), Bmj open, 11
A Guideline for Reporting Mediation Analyses of Randomized Trials and Observational Studies: The AGReMA Statement.
Journal article

Lee H. et al, (2021), Jama, 326, 1045 - 1056
The Effect of Therapeutic Exercise Interventions on Physical and Psychosocial Outcomes in Adults Aged 80 Years and Older: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.
Journal article

Nicolson PJA. et al, (2021), J aging phys act, 1 - 18
Base of thumb osteoarthritis in UK interface services-a cohort and survey-based study to assess current practice.
Journal article

Dean BJF. et al, (2021), Rheumatology (oxford), 60, 4094 - 4102
Findings from the patch augmented rotator cuff surgery (PARCS) feasibility study.
Journal article

Cook JA. et al, (2021), Pilot feasibility stud, 7
Progressive exercise compared with best-practice advice, with or without corticosteroid injection, for rotator cuff disorders: the GRASP factorial RCT.
Journal article

Hopewell S. et al, (2021), Health technol assess, 25, 1 - 158
Progressive exercise compared with best-practice advice, with or without corticosteroid injection, for rotator cuff disorders: the GRASP factorial RCT.
Journal article

Hopewell S. et al, (2021), Health technol assess, 25, 1 - 158
Progressive exercise compared with best practice advice, with or without corticosteroid injection, for the treatment of patients with rotator cuff disorders (GRASP): a multicentre, pragmatic, 2 × 2 factorial, randomised controlled trial.
Journal article

Hopewell S. et al, (2021), Lancet, 398, 416 - 428
Randomised study within a trial (SWAT) to evaluate personalised versus standard text message prompts for increasing trial participant response to postal questionnaires (PROMPTS).
Journal article

Cureton L. et al, (2021), Trials, 22
Randomised study within a trial (SWAT) to evaluate personalised versus standard text message prompts for increasing trial participant response to postal questionnaires (PROMPTS)
Journal article

CURETON L. et al, (2021), Trials
When Factorial Design Randomized Control Trials are no plain sailing
Conference paper

MARIAN I. et al, (2021)
Challenges in Factorial Design Randomized Control Trials
Conference paper

MARIAN I. et al, (2021)
Progression from external pilot to definitive randomised controlled trial: a methodological review of progression criteria reporting.
Journal article

Mellor K. et al, (2021), Bmj open, 11
Guidelines for Reporting Trial Protocols and Completed Trials Modified Due to the COVID-19 Pandemic and Other Extenuating Circumstances: The CONSERVE 2021 Statement.
Journal article

Orkin AM. et al, (2021), Jama
Reporting quality of trial protocols improved for non-regulated interventions but not regulated interventions: a repeated cross-sectional study.
Journal article

Lohner S. et al, (2021), J clin epidemiol
Compression stockings for preventing deep vein thrombosis in airline passengers.
Journal article

Clarke MJ. et al, (2021), Cochrane database syst rev, 4
Transparency of informed consent in pilot and feasibility studies is inadequate: a single-center quality assurance study.
Journal article

Khan MIU. et al, (2021), Pilot feasibility stud, 7
Preferred reporting items for journal and conference abstracts of systematic reviews and meta-analyses of diagnostic test accuracy studies (PRISMA-DTA for Abstracts): checklist, explanation, and elaboration.
Journal article

Cohen JF. et al, (2021), Bmj, 372
A meta-research study revealed several challenges in obtaining placebos for investigator-initiated drug trials.
Journal article

Speich B. et al, (2021), J clin epidemiol, 131, 70 - 78
Cognitive-behavioural therapy for a variety of conditions: an overview of systematic reviews and panoramic meta-analysis.
Journal article

Fordham B. et al, (2021), Health technol assess, 25, 1 - 378
Patch augmentation surgery for rotator cuff repair: the PARCS mixed-methods feasibility study.
Journal article

Cook JA. et al, (2021), Health technol assess, 25, 1 - 138
Alternative agents to prophylactic platelet transfusion for preventing bleeding in people with thrombocytopenia due to chronic bone marrow failure: A meta-analysis and systematic review (Russian Translation of Cochrane Plain Language Summary)
Journal article

Desborough MJR. et al, (2021), Journal of modern oncology, 23, 635 - 636
Base of thumb osteoarthritis (BTOA) in UK interface services-a cohort and survey based study to assess current practice.
Journal article

Dean BJF. et al, (2020), Rheumatology (oxford)
Use of implantable meshes for augmented rotator cuff repair: a systematic review and meta-analysis.
Journal article

Baldwin M. et al, (2020), Bmj open, 10
Patients' and parents' views about lower limb orthopaedic surgery for ambulant children and young people with cerebral palsy: a qualitative evidence synthesis.
Journal article

Almoajil H. et al, (2020), J child orthop, 14, 562 - 573
Multifactorial interventions for preventing falls in older people living in the community: a systematic review and meta-analysis of 41 trials and almost 20 000 participants.
Journal article

Hopewell S. et al, (2020), Br j sports med, 54, 1340 - 1350
Rationale and design of repeated cross-sectional studies to evaluate the reporting quality of trial protocols: the Adherence to SPIrit REcommendations (ASPIRE) study and associated projects.
Journal article

Gryaznov D. et al, (2020), Trials, 21
Progressive exercise compared with best practice advice, with or without corticosteroid injection, for the treatment of rotator cuff disorders: statistical analysis plan for the Getting it Right: Addressing Shoulder Pain (GRASP) 2 × 2 factorial multicentre randomised controlled trial.
Journal article

Marian IR. et al, (2020), Trials, 21
TIDieR-Placebo: A guide and checklist for reporting placebo and sham controls.
Journal article

Howick J. et al, (2020), Plos med, 17
Items for consideration in a reporting guideline for mediation analyses: a Delphi study.
Journal article

Cashin AG. et al, (2020), Bmj evid based med
Prediction of RECRUITment In randomized clinical Trials (RECRUIT-IT)-rationale and design for an international collaborative study.
Journal article

Kasenda B. et al, (2020), Trials, 21
Exercise for preventing falls in older people living in the community: an abridged Cochrane systematic review.
Journal article

Sherrington C. et al, (2020), Br j sports med, 54, 885 - 891
Blood transfusion for preventing primary and secondary stroke in people with sickle cell disease.
Journal article

Estcourt LJ. et al, (2020), Cochrane database syst rev, 7
Preoperative blood transfusions for sickle cell disease.
Journal article

Estcourt LJ. et al, (2020), Cochrane database syst rev, 7
Assessing the transparency of informed consent in feasibility and pilot studies: a single-centre quality assurance study protocol.
Journal article

Khan MI. et al, (2020), Bmj open, 10
Outcome domains and measures after lower limb orthopaedic surgery for ambulant children with cerebral palsy: an updated scoping review.
Journal article

Almoajil H. et al, (2020), Dev med child neurol
The adaptive designs CONSORT extension (ACE) statement: a checklist with explanation and elaboration guideline for reporting randomised trials that use an adaptive design.
Journal article

Dimairo M. et al, (2020), Trials, 21
Arthroscopic partial meniscectomy for meniscal tears of the knee: a systematic review and meta-analysis.
Journal article

Abram SGF. et al, (2020), Br j sports med, 54, 652 - 663
Design, analysis and reporting of multi-arm trials and strategies to address multiple testing.
Conference paper

Odutayo A. et al, (2020), Int j epidemiol, 49, 968 - 978
Development and implementation of the physiotherapy-led exercise interventions for the treatment of rotator cuff disorders for the 'Getting it Right: Addressing Shoulder Pain' (GRASP) trial.
Journal article

Keene DJ. et al, (2020), Physiotherapy, 107, 252 - 266
Shoulder replacement surgery for osteoarthritis and rotator cuff tear arthropathy.
Journal article

Craig RS. et al, (2020), Cochrane database syst rev, 4
Reporting guidelines for journal and conference abstracts.
Journal article

Cohen JF. et al, (2020), J clin epidemiol
Interventions for preventing silent cerebral infarcts in people with sickle cell disease.
Journal article

Estcourt LJ. et al, (2020), Cochrane database syst rev, 4
Impact of a short version of the CONSORT checklist for peer reviewers to improve the reporting of randomised controlled trials published in biomedical journals: study protocol for a randomised controlled trial.
Journal article

Speich B. et al, (2020), Bmj open, 10
Development of a core outcome set for lower limb orthopaedic surgical interventions in ambulant children and young people with cerebral palsy: a study protocol.
Journal article

Almoajil H. et al, (2020), Bmj open, 10
Development of A Guideline for Reporting Mediation Analyses (AGReMA).
Journal article

Cashin AG. et al, (2020), Bmc med res methodol, 20
Blood transfusion for preventing primary and secondary stroke in people with sickle cell disease
Journal article

Estcourt LJ. et al, (2020), Cochrane database of systematic reviews
Design, Analysis and Reporting of Multi-Arm Trials and Strategies to Address Multiple Testing
Journal article

ODUTAYO A. et al, (2019), International journal of epidemiology
Prophylactic plasma transfusion for patients without inherited bleeding disorders or anticoagulant use undergoing non-cardiac surgery or invasive procedures.
Journal article

Huber J. et al, (2019), Cochrane database syst rev, 11
Accuracy in detecting inadequate research reporting by early career peer reviewers using an online CONSORT-based peer-review tool (COBPeer) versus the usual peer-review process: a cross-sectional diagnostic study.
Journal article

Chauvin A. et al, (2019), Bmc med, 17
Progressive functional exercise versus best practice advice for adults aged 50 years or over after ankle fracture: protocol for a pilot randomised controlled trial in the UK - the Ankle Fracture Treatment: Enhancing Rehabilitation (AFTER) study.
Journal article

Keene DJ. et al, (2019), Bmj open, 9
Regular long-term red blood cell transfusions for managing chronic chest complications in sickle cell disease.
Journal article

Estcourt LJ. et al, (2019), Cochrane database syst rev, 2019
External Pilot and Feasibility Studies: Past, Present and Future Challenges
Conference paper

Thabane L. et al, (2019), Trials, 20
What use is an external pilot study?
Conference paper

Eldridge S. et al, (2019), Trials, 20
Injection therapy for base of thumb osteoarthritis: a systematic review and meta-analysis.
Journal article

Riley N. et al, (2019), Bmj open, 9
RoB 2: a revised tool for assessing risk of bias in randomised trials.
Journal article

Sterne JAC. et al, (2019), Bmj, 366
Surgical interventions for symptomatic mild to moderate knee osteoarthritis.
Journal article

Palmer JS. et al, (2019), Cochrane database syst rev, 7
Surgical interventions for symptomatic mild to moderate knee osteoarthritis
Journal article

Palmer JS. et al, (2019), Cochrane database of systematic reviews, 2019
Reporting Quality of Journal Abstracts for Surgical Randomized Controlled Trials Before and After the Implementation of the CONSORT Extension for Abstracts.
Journal article

Speich B. et al, (2019), World j surg
Reporting of Multi-Arm Parallel-Group Randomized Trials: Extension of the CONSORT 2010 Statement.
Journal article

Juszczak E. et al, (2019), Jama, 321, 1610 - 1620
Treatment of first-time traumatic anterior shoulder dislocation: the UK TASH-D cohort study.
Journal article

Rees JL. et al, (2019), Health technol assess, 23, 1 - 104
Treatment of first-time traumatic anterior shoulder dislocation: the UK TASH-D cohort study.
Journal article

Rees JL. et al, (2019), Health technol assess, 23, 1 - 104
An overview of systematic reviews found suboptimal reporting and methodological limitations of mediation studies investigating causal mechanisms.
Journal article

Cashin AG. et al, (2019), J clin epidemiol
Patient relevant outcomes of unicompartmental versus total knee replacement: systematic review and meta-analysis.
Journal article

Wilson HA. et al, (2019), Bmj, 364
Exercise for preventing falls in older people living in the community.
Journal article

Sherrington C. et al, (2019), Cochrane database syst rev, 1
Effectiveness of cognitive-behavioural therapy: a protocol for an overview of systematic reviews and meta-analyses.
Journal article

Fordham B. et al, (2018), Bmj open, 8
Systematic review of the surgical management of rotator cuff repair with an augmentative patch: a feasibility study protocol.
Journal article

Greenall G. et al, (2018), Syst rev, 7
Overinterpretation and misreporting of prognostic factor studies in oncology: a systematic review.
Journal article

Kempf E. et al, (2018), Br j cancer, 119, 1288 - 1296
Prophylactic platelet transfusions prior to surgery for people with a low platelet count.
Journal article

Estcourt LJ. et al, (2018), Cochrane database syst rev, 9
Doug Altman's legacy to Cochrane and evidence synthesis.
Journal article

Deeks JJ. et al, (2018), Cochrane database syst rev, 8
Red blood cell transfusion to treat or prevent complications in sickle cell disease: an overview of Cochrane reviews.
Journal article

Fortin PM. et al, (2018), Cochrane database syst rev, 8
CONSORT-SPI 2018 Explanation and Elaboration: guidance for reporting social and psychological intervention trials.
Journal article

Grant S. et al, (2018), Trials, 19
Reporting randomised trials of social and psychological interventions: the CONSORT-SPI 2018 Extension.
Journal article

Montgomery P. et al, (2018), Trials, 19
Multifactorial and multiple component interventions for preventing falls in older people living in the community.
Journal article

Hopewell S. et al, (2018), Cochrane database syst rev, 7
Comparison of a therapeutic-only versus prophylactic platelet transfusion policy for people with congenital or acquired bone marrow failure disorders.
Journal article

Malouf R. et al, (2018), Cochrane database syst rev, 5
Interventions for improving adherence to iron chelation therapy in people with sickle cell disease or thalassaemia.
Journal article

Fortin PM. et al, (2018), Cochrane database syst rev, 5
Use of platelet transfusions prior to lumbar punctures or epidural anaesthesia for the prevention of complications in people with thrombocytopenia.
Journal article

Estcourt LJ. et al, (2018), Cochrane database syst rev, 4
Influence of peer review on the reporting of primary outcome(s) and statistical analyses of randomised trials.
Journal article

Hopewell S. et al, (2018), Trials, 19
Patch-augmented rotator cuff surgery (PARCS) study-protocol for a feasibility study.
Journal article

Cook JA. et al, (2018), Pilot feasibility stud, 4
Shoulder replacement surgery for osteoarthritis and rotator cuff tear arthropathy
Journal article

Craig RS. et al, (2017), Cochrane database of systematic reviews
Incidence of shoulder dislocations in the UK, 1995-2015: a population-based cohort study.
Journal article

Shah A. et al, (2017), Bmj open, 7
Patient-reported outcome measures for patients with meniscal tears: a systematic review of measurement properties and evaluation with the COSMIN checklist.
Journal article

Abram SGF. et al, (2017), Bmj open, 7
Diagnostic and therapeutic treatment modalities for acute lower gastrointestinal bleeding: a systematic review.
Journal article

Oakland K. et al, (2017), Endosc int open, 5, E959 - E973
Plasma transfusions prior to lumbar punctures and epidural catheters for people with abnormal coagulation.
Journal article

Estcourt LJ. et al, (2017), Cochrane database syst rev, 9
A protocol of a cross-sectional study evaluating an online tool for early career peer reviewers assessing reports of randomised controlled trials.
Journal article

Chauvin A. et al, (2017), Bmj open, 7
Prophylactic plasma transfusion for patients undergoing non-cardiac surgery.
Journal article

Huber J. et al, (2017), Cochrane database syst rev, 2017
Pathogen-reduced platelets for the prevention of bleeding.
Journal article

Estcourt LJ. et al, (2017), Cochrane database syst rev, 7
Clinical and cost-effectiveness of progressive exercise compared with best practice advice, with or without corticosteroid injection, for the treatment of rotator cuff disorders: protocol for a 2x2 factorial randomised controlled trial (the GRASP trial).
Journal article

Hopewell S. et al, (2017), Bmj open, 7
Desmopressin use for minimising perioperative blood transfusion.
Journal article

Desborough MJ. et al, (2017), Cochrane database syst rev, 7
CONSORT Statement for Randomized Trials of Nonpharmacologic Treatments: A 2017 Update and a CONSORT Extension for Nonpharmacologic Trial Abstracts.
Journal article

Boutron I. et al, (2017), Ann intern med, 167, 40 - 47
Interventions for chronic kidney disease in people with sickle cell disease.
Journal article

Roy NB. et al, (2017), Cochrane database syst rev, 7
Income Disparities in Absolute Cardiovascular Risk and Cardiovascular Risk Factors in the United States, 1999-2014.
Journal article

Odutayo A. et al, (2017), Jama cardiol, 2, 782 - 790
Overinterpretation and misreporting of prognostic factor and biomarker studies in medical oncology.
Conference paper

Kempf E. et al, (2017), Journal of clinical oncology, 35, e14023 - e14023

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