A descriptive analysis of child-relevant systematic reviews in the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews

Ref ID 143
First Author S. Bow
Journal BMC PEDIATRICS
Year Of Publishing 2010
URL https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2881081/pdf/1471-2431-10-34.pdf
Keywords Cochrane
Multiplicity
Paediatrics
Publication bias
Risk of bias
Pre-specification
Problem(s) Weaknesses identified in some Cochrane reviews
Multiplicity of outcomes and lack of pre-specification for outcome reporting
Poor consideration of publication bias
Not updated regularly
Flawed risk of bias undertaken
Number of systematic reviews included 793
Summary of Findings 38% of 793 included systematic reviews were last assessed as up-to-date prior to 2007. Primary outcomes were specified in 72% of systematic reviews. Allocation concealment and the Jadad scale were used in 97% and 25% of systematic reviews, respectively. Publication bias was assessed in only 14% of systematic reviews. Adults and children were analysed separately in 12% of systematic reviews and as a subgroup analysis in 14%.
Did the article find that the problem(s) led to qualitative changes in interpretation of the results? Not Applicable
Are the methods of the article described in enough detail to replicate the study? Yes