Empirical assessment of effect of publication bias on meta-analyses.

ABSTRACT:

Objective

To assess the effect of publication bias on the results and conclusions of systematic reviews and meta-analyses.

Design

Analysis of published meta-analyses by trim and fill method.

Studies

48 reviews in Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews that considered a binary endpoint and contained 10 or more individual studies.

Main outcome measures

Number of reviews with missing studies and effect on conclusions of meta-analyses.

Results

The trim and fill fixed effects analysis method estimated that 26 (54%) of reviews had missing studies and in 10 the number missing was significant. The corresponding figures with a random effects model were 23 (48%) and eight. In four cases, statistical inferences regarding the effect of the intervention were changed

SUBMITTER: Sutton AJ 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC27401 | biostudies-literature | 2000 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature