Room for improvement? A survey of the methods used in systematic reviews of adverse effects.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Although the methods for conducting systematic reviews of efficacy are well established, there is much less guidance on how systematic reviews of adverse effects should be performed.

Methods

In order to determine where methodological research is most needed to improve systematic reviews of adverse effects of health care interventions, we conducted a descriptive analysis of systematic reviews published between 1994 and 2005. We searched the Database of Abstracts of Reviews of Effects (DARE) and The Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews (CDSR) to identify systematic reviews in which the primary outcome was an adverse effect or effects. We then extracted data on many of the elements of the systematic review process including: types of interventions studied, adverse

SUBMITTER: Golder S 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC1402311 | biostudies-literature | 2006 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature