- Framework of problems / Objective
- Non-financial conflicts of interest of review authors
- Can Cochrane Reviews in controversial areas be biased? A sensitivity analysis based on the protocol of a Systematic Cochrane Review on low-level laser therapy in osteoarthritis
Ref ID | 250 |
First Author | J. M. Bjordal |
Journal | PHOTOMEDICINE AND LASER THERAPY |
Year Of Publishing | 2005 |
URL | https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/16262573/ |
Keywords |
Cochrane Missing data Error Allegiance Subgroup Rheumatology |
Problem(s) |
Failure to address missing outcome data in analyses Unplanned or unjustified subgroup or sensitivity analyses Weaknesses identified in some Cochrane reviews Errors in effect estimate calculations or data synthesis Errors in study inclusion or omission of relevant studies Non-financial conflicts of interest of review authors |
Number of systematic reviews included | 1 |
Summary of Findings | Replication of the literature searches for the Cochrane review of low level laser therapy for osteoarthritis classes 1,2 and 3 identified two trials that met the original stated objective without being included in the Cochrane review. An imbalance of the review group was identified as reviewers tend to favour their own trial conclusions. Other problems included: Inclusion of invalid (categorical) data in statistical analysis of continuous data; Omission of continuous data in statistical analysis of included trials; Omission of categorical data in statistical analysis of included trials; Omission of data from non-included trials; Lack of transparency in which trial data is entered into main results and; Non-performance of pre-planned subgroup analysis. |
Did the article find that the problem(s) led to qualitative changes in interpretation of the results? | Yes |
Are the methods of the article described in enough detail to replicate the study? | No |