Improvement needed in the network geometry and inconsistency of Cochrane network meta-analyses: a cross-sectional survey

Ref ID 681
First Author Y. Gao
Journal JOURNAL OF CLINICAL EPIDEMIOLOGY
Year Of Publishing 2019
URL https://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jclinepi.2019.05.022
Keywords Cochrane
Publication bias
Network meta-analysis
General medical
Low reporting quality
Low methodological quality
Problem(s) Low reporting (PRISMA) quality
Low methodological (AMSTAR) quality
Poor consideration of publication bias
Individual study characteristics not reported sufficiently
Number of systematic reviews included 42
Summary of Findings Only 26.2% NMAs described the geometry of network, 64.3% presented the network plot, and 33.3% fully assessed the inconsistency. The overall methodological quality was low. 88.1% of the included NMAs did not explain their selection of the study designs for inclusion in the review, and 59.5% of the NMAs did not carry out an adequate investigation of publication bias
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