- Framework of problems / Rigorous
- Unplanned or unjustified subgroup or sensitivity analyses
- Exploring treatment by covariate interactions using subgroup analysis and meta-regression in cochrane reviews: a review of recent practice
| Ref ID | 547 |
| First Author | S. Donegan |
| Journal | PLOS ONE |
| Year Of Publishing | 2015 |
| URL | https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26029923/ |
| Keywords |
• Statistical • Cochrane • General medical • Pre-specification • Subgroup • Multiplicity |
| Problem(s) |
• Multiplicity of outcomes and lack of pre-specification for outcome reporting • Unplanned or unjustified subgroup or sensitivity analyses |
| Number of systematic reviews included | 52 |
| Summary of Findings | The type of analysis planned and the type subsequently applied (e.g., sensitivity or subgroup analysis) was discrepant in 46% of reviews. No review reported how or why each covariate had been chosen; 42% of reviews did state each covariate a priori in the protocol but no review identified each post-hoc covariate as such. |
| Did the article find that the problem(s) led to qualitative changes in interpretation of the results? | N/A |
| Are the methods of the article described in enough detail to replicate the study? | Yes |