ROBIS: A new tool to assess risk of bias in systematic reviews was developed.

ABSTRACT:

Objective

To develop ROBIS, a new tool for assessing the risk of bias in systematic reviews (rather than in primary studies).

Study design and setting

We used four-stage approach to develop ROBIS: define the scope, review the evidence base, hold a face-to-face meeting, and refine the tool through piloting.

Results

ROBIS is currently aimed at four broad categories of reviews mainly within health care settings: interventions, diagnosis, prognosis, and etiology. The target audience of ROBIS is primarily guideline developers, authors of overviews of systematic reviews ("reviews of reviews"), and review authors who might want to assess or avoid risk of bias in their reviews. The tool is completed in three phases: (1) assess relevance (optional), (2) identify concerns with

SUBMITTER: Whiting P 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4687950 | biostudies-literature | 2016 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature