Comparison of methodological quality rating of systematic reviews on neuropathic pain using AMSTAR and R-AMSTAR

Ref ID 113
First Author S. Dosenovic
Journal BMC MEDICAL RESEARCH METHODOLOGY
Year Of Publishing 2018
URL https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/29739339
Keywords • Pain
• Neurology
• Non-Cochrane reviews
• Publication bias
• Protocols
• Cochrane
Problem(s) • Cochrane reviews more rigorous/higher quality than non-Cochrane reviews
• Poor consideration of publication bias
• Conflicts of interest or funding of included studies not assessed
• Risk of bias not incorporated into conclusions of review
• No registered or published protocol
Article Type Empirical
Article Subtype Cross-sectional survey/Methodological systematic review
First Author Country Croatia
Checklists • AMSTAR 1
Aim To assess the methodological quality (AMSTAR and R-AMSTAR) of systematic reviews in the field of neuropathic pain published across 5 databases from inception up to March 2015.
Level of Investigation Descriptive
Summary of Findings The 97 included systematic reviews had a wide range of methodological quality scores (AMSTAR median (IQR): 6 (5–8) vs. R-AMSTAR median (IQR): 30 (26–35)). The 31 Cochrane systematic reviews (CSRs) were consistently ranked higher than the 66 non-Cochrane systematic reviews (NCSRs). Using AMSTAR the worst on items were: conflict of interest included, (12% fulfilled); ‘a priori’ design provided, (35% fulfilled) and likelihood of publication bias assessed (40% fulfilled). Using R-AMSTAR the worst adherence was found for likelihood of publication bias assessed (49% fulfilled), and scientific quality of the included studies used appropriately in formulating conclusions (44% fulfilled).
Number of systematic reviews included 97
Number of eligible systematic reviews assessed 2412
Treatment impacted No
Treatment impacted description
Interpretation impacted Not Applicable
Interpretation impacted description