TY - JOUR
T1 - A methodological survey of the analysis, reporting and interpretation of Absolute Risk ReductiOn in systematic revieWs (ARROW)
T2 - A study protocol
AU - Alonso-Coello, Pablo
AU - Carrasco-Labra, Alonso
AU - Brignardello-Petersen, Romina
AU - Neumann, Ignacio
AU - Akl, Elie A.
AU - Sun, Xin
AU - Johnston, Bradley C.
AU - Briel, Matthias
AU - Busse, Jason W.
AU - Glujovsky, Demián
AU - Granados, Carlos E.
AU - Iorio, Alfonso
AU - Irfan, Affan
AU - García, Laura M.
AU - Mustafa, Reem A.
AU - Ramirez-Morera, Anggie
AU - Solà, Iván
AU - Tikkinen, Kari A.O.
AU - Ebrahim, Shanil
AU - Vandvik, Per O.
AU - Zhang, Yuqing
AU - Selva, Anna
AU - Sanabria, Andrea J.
AU - Zazueta, Oscar E.
AU - Vernooij, Robin W.M.
AU - Schünemann, Holger J.
AU - Guyatt, Gordon H.
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2013 Alonso-Coello et al.; licensee BioMed Central Ltd.
PY - 2013/12/13
Y1 - 2013/12/13
N2 - Background: Clinicians, providers and guideline panels use absolute effects to weigh the advantages and downsides of treatment alternatives. Relative measures have the potential to mislead readers. However, little is known about the reporting of absolute measures in systematic reviews. The objectives of our study are to determine the proportion of systematic reviews that report absolute measures of effect for the most important outcomes, and ascertain how they are analyzed, reported and interpreted. Methods/design: We will conduct a methodological survey of systematic reviews published in 2010. We will conduct a 1:1 stratified random sampling of Cochrane vs. non-Cochrane systematic reviews. We will calculate the proportion of systematic reviews reporting at least one absolute estimate of effect for the most patient-important outcome for the comparison of interest. We will conduct multivariable logistic regression analyses with the reporting of an absolute estimate of effect as the dependent variable and pre-specified study characteristics as the independent variables. For systematic reviews reporting an absolute estimate of effect, we will document the methods used for the analysis, reporting and interpretation of the absolute estimate. Discussion: Our methodological survey will inform current practices regarding reporting of absolute estimates in systematic reviews. Our findings may influence recommendations on reporting, conduct and interpretation of absolute estimates. Our results are likely to be of interest to systematic review authors, funding agencies, clinicians, guideline developers and journal editors.
AB - Background: Clinicians, providers and guideline panels use absolute effects to weigh the advantages and downsides of treatment alternatives. Relative measures have the potential to mislead readers. However, little is known about the reporting of absolute measures in systematic reviews. The objectives of our study are to determine the proportion of systematic reviews that report absolute measures of effect for the most important outcomes, and ascertain how they are analyzed, reported and interpreted. Methods/design: We will conduct a methodological survey of systematic reviews published in 2010. We will conduct a 1:1 stratified random sampling of Cochrane vs. non-Cochrane systematic reviews. We will calculate the proportion of systematic reviews reporting at least one absolute estimate of effect for the most patient-important outcome for the comparison of interest. We will conduct multivariable logistic regression analyses with the reporting of an absolute estimate of effect as the dependent variable and pre-specified study characteristics as the independent variables. For systematic reviews reporting an absolute estimate of effect, we will document the methods used for the analysis, reporting and interpretation of the absolute estimate. Discussion: Our methodological survey will inform current practices regarding reporting of absolute estimates in systematic reviews. Our findings may influence recommendations on reporting, conduct and interpretation of absolute estimates. Our results are likely to be of interest to systematic review authors, funding agencies, clinicians, guideline developers and journal editors.
KW - Absolute effect measures
KW - Data reporting
KW - Evidence-based medicine
KW - Meta-analysis
KW - Numbers needed to treat
KW - Statistical data
KW - Systematic reviews
UR - https://www.scopus.com/pages/publications/84907186051
U2 - 10.1186/2046-4053-2-113
DO - 10.1186/2046-4053-2-113
M3 - Article
C2 - 24330779
AN - SCOPUS:84907186051
SN - 2046-4053
VL - 2
JO - Systematic Reviews
JF - Systematic Reviews
IS - 1
M1 - 113
ER -