Managing overlap of primary study results across systematic reviews: practical considerations for authors of overviews of reviews.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Overviews often identify and synthesise a large number of systematic reviews on the same topic, which is likely to lead to overlap (i.e. duplication) in primary studies across the reviews. Using a primary study result multiple times in the same analysis overstates its sample size and number of events, falsely leading to greater precision in the analysis. This paper aims to: (a) describe types of overlapping data that arise from the same primary studies reported across multiple reviews, (b) describe methods to identify and explain overlap of primary study data, and (c) present six case studies illustrating different approaches to manage overlap.

Methods

We first updated the search in PubMed for methods from the MOoR framework relating to overlap of primary studies.

SUBMITTER: Lunny C 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8265144 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature