Potential Problems With Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses

Ref ID 321
First Author R. J. Gatchel
Journal JOURNAL OF PAIN
Year Of Publishing 2017
URL https://www.jpain.org/article/S1526-5900(16)30237-1/pdf
Keywords • Mental health
• Pain
• Low reporting quality
• Heterogeneity
• Publication bias
• Error
Problem(s) • Inadequate analysis of heterogeneity
• Poor consideration of publication bias
• Errors in study inclusion or omission of relevant studies
• Intervention not described / defined
Article Type Editorial
Article Subtype Comment/letter
First Author Country United States
Aim A letter highlighting concerns with the conduct and interpretation of one systematic review of conservative interventions for nonspecific chronic spinal pain.
Level of Investigation Descriptive
Summary of Findings The letter highlights concerns with the conduct and interpretation of one systematic review of conservative interventions for nonspecific chronic spinal pain published in 2016. Concerns include omission of potentially relevant trials, misclassification of interventions, considerable methodological heterogeneity and incongruent analyses and failure to adequately consider publication bias.
Number of systematic reviews included 1
Number of eligible systematic reviews assessed 1
Treatment impacted No
Treatment impacted description
Interpretation impacted Not Applicable
Interpretation impacted description