Hirakata VN, Oppermann MLR, Genro VK, Reichelt AJ. Exploring the Gantt chart as a tool to highlight double report in case series published during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Syst Rev 2022;
11:155. [PMID:
35908036 PMCID:
PMC9338517 DOI:
10.1186/s13643-022-02024-0]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/11/2021] [Accepted: 07/11/2022] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND
During the COVID-19 pandemic, some studies describing different aspects of the infection included very similar participants, rising suspicion about double reporting. We aimed to evaluate the Gantt chart as a tool to highlight possible double reporting. The chart is routinely used in business applications to depict tasks of a project, by plotting horizontal bars against time, showing their time span and overlaps.
METHODS
All case reports and case series of pregnant women with COVID-19, published by July 15, 2020, were included. Initial and final dates of participants' enrollment, country, city, hospital, and number of pregnancies were plotted in the Gantt chart. Bars stand for enrollment dates of each study, according to hospital and city, thus allowing comparisons.
RESULTS
We included 116 articles in the present analysis. The Gantt chart highlighted papers in which some participants were likely the same, thus allowing easier identification of double reporting of cases. Combining all information and pregnancy characteristics and outcomes helped to recognize duplications when the authors did not acknowledged the previous publication.
CONCLUSIONS
Unintended double reporting may occur, especially in exceptional times. The Gantt chart may help researchers to visually identify potential duplications, thus avoiding biased estimates in systematic reviews or meta-analysis.
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