Lack of transparency in reporting narrative synthesis of quantitative data: a methodological assessment of systematic reviews

Ref ID 672
First Author M. Campbell
Journal JOURNAL OF CLINICAL EPIDEMIOLOGY
Year Of Publishing 2019
URL https://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jclinepi.2018.08.019
Keywords Heterogeneity
Public health
Problem(s) Poor execution of narrative synthesis
Number of systematic reviews included 75
Summary of Findings 95% of narrative syntheses of quantitative data did not describe their methods; 43% did not provide transparent links between the synthesis data and the synthesis reported in the text; only one review that identified heterogeneity in direction of effect investigated the heterogeneity; and 36% or reviews did not reflect on limitations of the synthesis.
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