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Lunny C, Ramasubbu C, Puil L, Liu T, Gerrish S, Salzwedel DM, Mintzes B, Wright JM. Over half of clinical practice guidelines use non-systematic methods to inform recommendations: A methods study. PLoS One 2021; 16:e0250356. [PMID: 33886670 PMCID: PMC8062080 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0250356] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/22/2020] [Accepted: 04/06/2021] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Assessing the process used to synthesize the evidence in clinical practice guidelines enables users to determine the trustworthiness of the recommendations. Clinicians are increasingly dependent on guidelines to keep up with vast quantities of medical literature, and guidelines are followed to avoid malpractice suits. We aimed to assess whether systematic methods were used when synthesizing the evidence for guidelines; and to determine the type of review cited in support of recommendations. METHODS Guidelines published in 2017 and 2018 were retrieved from the TRIP and Epistemonikos databases. We randomly sorted and sequentially screened clinical guidelines on all topics to select the first 50 that met our inclusion criteria. Our primary outcomes were the number of guidelines using either a systematic or non-systematic process to gather, assess, and synthesise evidence; and the numbers of recommendations within guidelines based on different types of evidence synthesis (systematic or non-systematic reviews). If a review was cited, we looked for evidence that it was critically appraised, and recorded which quality assessment tool was used. Finally, we examined the relation between the use of the GRADE approach, systematic review process, and type of funder. RESULTS Of the 50 guidelines, 17 (34%) systematically synthesised the evidence to inform recommendations. These 17 guidelines clearly reported their objectives and eligibility criteria, conducted comprehensive search strategies, and assessed the quality of the studies. Of the 29/50 guidelines that included reviews, 6 (21%) assessed the risk of bias of the review. The quality of primary studies was reported in 30/50 (60%) guidelines. CONCLUSIONS High quality, systematic review products provide the best available evidence to inform guideline recommendations. Using non-systematic methods compromises the validity and reliability of the evidence used to inform guideline recommendations, leading to potentially misleading and untrustworthy results.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carole Lunny
- Department of Anesthesiology, Pharmacology & Therapeutics, Faculty of Medicine, Cochrane Hypertension Review Group, Therapeutics Initiative, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
- * E-mail:
| | - Cynthia Ramasubbu
- Department of Anesthesiology, Pharmacology & Therapeutics, Faculty of Medicine, Cochrane Hypertension Review Group, Therapeutics Initiative, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Lorri Puil
- Department of Anesthesiology, Pharmacology & Therapeutics, Faculty of Medicine, Cochrane Hypertension Review Group, Therapeutics Initiative, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Tracy Liu
- Department of Anesthesiology, Pharmacology & Therapeutics, Faculty of Medicine, Cochrane Hypertension Review Group, Therapeutics Initiative, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Savannah Gerrish
- Department of Anesthesiology, Pharmacology & Therapeutics, Faculty of Medicine, Cochrane Hypertension Review Group, Therapeutics Initiative, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Douglas M. Salzwedel
- Department of Anesthesiology, Pharmacology & Therapeutics, Faculty of Medicine, Cochrane Hypertension Review Group, Therapeutics Initiative, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Barbara Mintzes
- Charles Perkins Centre, and School of Pharmacy, The University of Sydney, Camperdown, NSW, Australia
| | - James M. Wright
- Department of Anesthesiology, Pharmacology & Therapeutics, Faculty of Medicine, Cochrane Hypertension Review Group, Therapeutics Initiative, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
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Faggion CM, Hagenfeld D. Methodological evaluation of reviews that support recommendations from three consensus workshops in periodontology. J Dent 2019; 86:89-94. [PMID: 31141722 DOI: 10.1016/j.jdent.2019.05.029] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/28/2018] [Revised: 05/17/2019] [Accepted: 05/24/2019] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE This study aimed to evaluate comprehensiveness and reproducibility of reviews that support consensus guidelines in periodontology. METHODS We included the reviews that support consensus guidelines from three workshops in periodontology, which were overseen by likely the two most important organisations in the field: the European Federation of Periodontology and the American Academy of Periodontology. We independently evaluated the comprehensiveness of literature searches by determining whether authors had searched reference lists, journals, registries and grey literature and whether the searches were limited to only one or a few languages. We evaluated whether review authors reported the eligibility criteria, the search strategies, and the list of included/excluded articles. We tested whether the search and selection of articles in one major database was reproducible. RESULTS Twenty-nine reviews were evaluated. Two (7%) reviews reported grey literature searches, and more than two-thirds of the reviews did not report hand-searching. Almost half of the reviews did not report whether there was language restriction for the literature searches. Two-thirds of the reviews reported the use of keywords only (without Boolean operators). One-fourth of the reviews reported the presence of a list of excluded articles after the full-text assessment. None of the reviews reported a detailed list of excluded articles after screening of titles/abstracts. None of the reviews reported enough information to allow reproduction of the findings of the PubMed search. CONCLUSIONS There is room to improve the reporting of the methodologies that are used in reviews that support periodontology consensus guidelines, although heterogeneity in reporting was found across all the reviews.
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Affiliation(s)
- Clovis Mariano Faggion
- Department of Periodontology and Operative Dentistry, University of Münster, Münster, Germany.
| | - Daniel Hagenfeld
- Department of Periodontology and Operative Dentistry, University of Münster, Münster, Germany
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Rowbotham NJ, Smith S, Prayle AP, Robinson KA, Smyth AR. Gaps in the evidence for treatment decisions in cystic fibrosis: a systematic review. Thorax 2018; 74:229-236. [PMID: 30301819 DOI: 10.1136/thoraxjnl-2017-210858] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/18/2017] [Revised: 08/09/2018] [Accepted: 08/27/2018] [Indexed: 01/19/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Cystic fibrosis (CF) is a multisystem disorder. Treatment is complex and evidence for treatment decisions may be absent. Characterising gaps in the research evidence will highlight treatment uncertainties and help prioritise research questions. We systematically identified the evidence gaps for treatment decisions in CF. METHODS We searched for systematic reviews and guidelines on treatment interventions in CF. Two researchers identified eligible reviews with arbitration from a third. Using a structured framework, we extracted and characterised evidence gaps. RESULTS There were 73 reviews and 21 guidelines that met our inclusion criteria. From these, we identified 148 evidence gaps across a range of treatment areas. We found 111 evidence gaps through systematic reviews and a further 37 from guidelines. The reason for an evidence gap could only be reliably characterised for systematic reviews. In most cases, there was more than one explanation-most commonly few or no trials (97/111 evidence gaps). Other important factors leading to evidence gaps were small sample size (49/111), inadequate duration of follow-up (38/111) or intervention (37/111) and factors relating to outcomes (35/111). Evidence gaps from both systematic reviews and guidelines fell into the following categories: Respiratory (91); Gastrointestinal (20); PhysiotherapyandExercise (16); Musculoskeletal (6); Endocrine (4); Basic defect of CF (8); Psychosocial (2); Ears, Nose and Throat (1). CONCLUSIONS We have compiled an up-to-date list of treatment uncertainties in CF and the reasons for these uncertainties. These can be used as a resource to aid researchers and funders when planning future trials. PROSPERO REGISTRATION NUMBER Pre-results; CRD42015030111.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicola Jane Rowbotham
- Evidence Based Child Health Group, Division of Child Health, Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, UK
| | - Sherie Smith
- Evidence Based Child Health Group, Division of Child Health, Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, UK
| | - Andrew P Prayle
- Evidence Based Child Health Group, Division of Child Health, Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, UK
| | - Karen A Robinson
- Department of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Alan Robert Smyth
- Evidence Based Child Health Group, Division of Child Health, Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, UK
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