Assessment of funnel plot asymmetry and publication bias in reproductive health meta-analyses: an analytic survey.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Despite efforts to assure high methodological standards, systematic reviews may be affected by publication bias. The objective of this study was to evaluate the occurrence of publication bias in a collection of high quality systematic reviews on reproductive health.

Methods

Systematic reviews included in the Reproductive Health Library (RHL), issue No 9, were assessed. Funnel plot was used to assess meta-analyses containing 10 or more trials reporting a binary outcome. A funnel plot, the estimated number of missing studies and the adjusted combined effect size were obtained using the "trim and fill method". Meta-analyses results that were not considered to be robust due to a possible publication bias were submitted to a more detailed assessment.

Results

A t

SUBMITTER: Souza JP 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC1855315 | biostudies-literature | 2007 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature