Characteristics and knowledge synthesis approach for 456 network meta-analyses: a scoping review

作者：W. Zarin, A. Veroniki, V. Nincic, A. Vafaei, Emily Reynen, Sanober S. Motiwala, J. Antony, Shannon M. Sullivan, Patricia Rios, C. Daly, Joycelyne E Ewusie, M. Petropoulou, Adriani Nikolakopoulou, A. Chaimani, G. Salanti, S. Straus, A. Tricco · 发表于：BMC Medicine · 年份：2017 · DOI：10.1186/s12916-016-0764-6 · 被引用次数：84 · 研究领域：Medicine

BackgroundNetwork meta-analysis (NMA) has become a popular method to compare more than two treatments. This scoping review aimed to explore the characteristics and methodological quality of knowledge synthesis approaches underlying the NMA process. We also aimed to assess the statistical methods applied using the Analysis subdomain of the ISPOR checklist.MethodsComprehensive literature searches were conducted in MEDLINE, PubMed, EMBASE, and Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews from inception until April 14, 2015. References of relevant reviews were scanned. Eligible studies compared at least four different interventions from randomised controlled trials with an appropriate NMA approach. Two reviewers independently performed study selection and data abstraction of included articles. All discrepancies between reviewers were resolved by a third reviewer. Data analysis involved quantitative (frequencies) and qualitative (content analysis) methods. Quality was evaluated using the AMSTAR tool for the conduct of knowledge synthesis and the ISPOR tool for statistical analysis.ResultsAfter screening 3538 citations and 877 full-text papers, 456 NMAs were included. These were published between 1997 and 2015, with 95% published after 2006. Most were conducted in Europe (51%) or North America (31%), and approximately one-third reported public sources of funding. Overall, 84% searched two or more electronic databases, 62% searched for grey literature, 58% performed duplicate study selec...