A systematic survey shows that reporting and handling of missing outcome data in networks of interventions is poor

Ref ID 436
First Author L. M. Spineli
Journal BMC MEDICAL RESEARCH METHODOLOGY
Year Of Publishing 2018
URL https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6201503/pdf/12874_2018_Article_576.pdf
Keywords Protocols
Missing data
Network meta-analysis
General medical
Problem(s) Failure to address missing outcome data in analyses
No registered or published protocol
Number of systematic reviews included 387
Summary of Findings 72% did not mention whether a protocol was available; 17% mentioned that a protocol was developed but they did not make the protocol available. Only 16% reviews explicitly defined (either in their protocol or publication) missing outcome data however 70% of reviews explicitly reported that there was missing outcome data in the included trials. 56% applied at least one strategy to address missing outcome data in their analysis. Overall, there was insufficient information in most systematic reviews with network meta-analysis to judge the actual strategy applied to handle missing outcome data.
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