Aims to measure, in a survey of meta-analyses, how frequently the application of funnel plot tests for asymmetry would be not meaningful or inappropriate
Level of Investigation
Descriptive
Summary of Findings
In most meta-analyses, the application of funnel-plot asymmetry tests to detect publication bias is inappropriate or not meaningful.
Number of systematic reviews included
464
Number of eligible systematic reviews assessed
7719
Treatment impacted
Yes
Treatment impacted description
Interpretation impacted
No
Interpretation impacted description
Does the article have a publicly available protocol?
No
Did the review team include both methodological and clinical experts?
Not Applicable
Sampling strategy for obtaining the systematic reviews under assessment
Consecutive
Was the sample size of systematic reviews subject to any formal sample size or power calculation?
No
Were any or all of the study selection and data extraction performed in duplicate?
No
Were any statistical adjustments made to correct for confounding?
No
Are the methods of the article described in enough detail to replicate the study?
