| Ref ID | 472 |
| First Author | J. Lau |
| Journal | BMJ |
| Year Of Publishing | 2006 |
| URL | https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1570006/pdf/bmj33300597.pdf |
| Keywords |
• Publication bias • General medical |
| Problem(s) |
• Poor consideration of publication bias |
| Article Type | Editorial |
| Article Subtype | Discussion piece |
| First Author Country | United States |
| Aim | A discussion of the funnel plot to highlight that it is frequently employed in systematic reviews but is seldom wisely deployed or interpreted. |
| Level of Investigation | Descriptive |
| Summary of Findings | The authors highlight that funnel plots are promoted by the Cochrane handbook as a method for assessment of publication bias. However several examples from published systematic reviews discussed by the authors indicate that they are frequently deployed when too few studies or underpowered studies are included in order for such a visual inspection to be meaningful and often that publication bias is erroneously concluded or discounted on the basis of funnel plots. Specific examples are cited within the editorial. |
| Number of systematic reviews included | 13 |
| Number of eligible systematic reviews assessed | 20 |
| Treatment impacted | No |
| Treatment impacted description | |
| Interpretation impacted | No |
| Interpretation impacted description |