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Adherence of systematic reviews to Cochrane RoB2 guidance was frequently poor : A meta epidemiological study
Minozzi, Silvia Gonzalez-Lorenzo, Marien Cinquini, Michela Berardinelli, Daniela Cagnazzo, Celeste Ciardullo, Stefano De Nardi, Paola Gammone, Mariarosaria Iovino, Paolo Lando, Alex
Minozzi, Silvia
Gonzalez-Lorenzo, Marien
Cinquini, Michela
Berardinelli, Daniela
Cagnazzo, Celeste
Ciardullo, Stefano
De Nardi, Paola
Gammone, Mariarosaria
Iovino, Paolo
Lando, Alex
Abstract
Objectives
To assess whether the use of the revised Cochrane risk of bias tool for randomized trials (RoB2) in systematic reviews (SRs) adheres to RoB2 guidance.
Methods
We searched MEDLINE, Embase, Cochrane Library from 2019 to May 2021 to identify SRs using RoB2. We analyzed methods and results sections to see whether risk of bias was assessed at outcome measure level and applied to primary outcomes of the SR as per RoB2 guidance. The relation between SR characteristics and adequacy of RoB2 use was examined by logistic regression analysis.
Results
Two hundred-eight SRs were included. We could assess adherence in 137 SRs as 12 declared using RoB2 but actually used RoB1 and 59 did not report the number of primary outcomes. The tool usage was adherent in 69.3% SRs. Considering SRs with multiple primary outcomes, adherence dropped to 28.8%. We found a positive association between RoB2 guidance adherence and the methodological quality of the reviews assessed by AMSTAR2 (p-for-trend 0.007). Multivariable regression analysis suggested journal impact factor [first quartile vs. other quartiles] was associated with RoB2 adherence (OR 0.34; 95% CI: 0.16-0.72).
Conclusions
Many SRs did not adhere to RoB2 guidance as they applied the tool at the study level rather than at the outcome measure level. Lack of adherence was more likely among low and very low quality reviews.
Keywords
systematic reviews, randomized controlled trials, risk of bias, adherence, meta-epidemiologic methods, methodological quality
Date
2022
Type
Journal article
Journal
Journal of Clinical Epidemiology
Book
Volume
152
Issue
Page Range
47-55
Article Number
ACU Department
Relation URI
Source URL
Event URL
Open Access Status
Published as ‘gold’ (paid) open access
License
CC BY-NC-ND 4.0
File Access
Open