Some problems with Cochrane reviews of diet and chronic disease

Ref ID 224
First Author A. S. Truswell
Journal EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF CLINICAL NUTRITION
Year Of Publishing 2005
URL https://www.nature.com/articles/1602189.pdf
Keywords • Nutrition
• Cochrane
• Spin
• Low reporting quality
• Error
• Missing data
Problem(s) • Perpetuates citation of poor quality primary study data
• Weaknesses identified in some Cochrane reviews
• Failure to define clinically meaningful outcomes
• Errors in study inclusion or omission of relevant studies
• Intervention not described / defined
• Spin or subjective interpretation of findings
Article Type Editorial
Article Subtype Discussion piece
First Author Country Australia
Aim A discussion piece highlighting flaws with two Cochrane systematic reviews of dietary interventions published in 2001 and 2002.
Level of Investigation Descriptive
Summary of Findings The flaws with two Cochrane systematic reviews of dietary interventions published in 2001 and 2002 highlighted were: inclusion of unsuitable trials due to study design; omission of relevant trials; inappropriate research outcomes; lack of definition of intervention outcomes; and unsubstantiated conclusions.
Number of systematic reviews included 2
Number of eligible systematic reviews assessed 2
Treatment impacted No
Treatment impacted description
Interpretation impacted Not Applicable
Interpretation impacted description