Improving the quality of reports of meta-analyses of randomised controlled trials: the QUOROM statement. QUOROM Group.
BACKGROUND
The Quality of Reporting of Meta-analyses (QUOROM) conference was convened to address standards for improving the quality of reporting of meta-analyses of clinical randomised controlled trials (RCTs).


METHODS
The QUOROM group consisted of 30 clinical epidemiologists, clinicians, statisticians, editors, and researchers. In conference, the group was asked to identify items they thought should be included in a checklist of standards. Whenever possible, checklist items were guided by research evidence suggesting that failure to adhere to the item proposed could lead to biased results. A modified Delphi technique was used in assessing candidate items.


RESULTS
The conference resulted in the QUOROM statement, a checklist, and a flow diagram. The checklist describes our preferred way to present the abstract, introduction, methods, results, and discussion sections of a report of a meta-analysis. It is organised into 21 headings and subheadings regarding searches, selection, validity assessment, data abstraction, study characteristics, and quantitative data synthesis, and in the results with 'trial flow', study characteristics, and quantitative data synthesis; research documentation was identified for eight of the 18 items. The flow diagram provides information about both the numbers of RCTs identified, included, and excluded and the reasons for exclusion of trials.


CONCLUSIONS
We hope this report will generate further thought about ways to improve the quality of reports of meta-analyses of RCTs and that interested readers, reviewers, researchers, and editors will use the QUOROM statement and generate ideas for its improvement.
Moher
D
D
University of Ottawa, Thomas C. Chalmers Centre for Systematic Reviews, Ontario, Canada. dmoher@uottawa.ca
Cook
D J
DJ
Eastwood
S
S
Olkin
I
I
Rennie
D
D
Stroup
D F
DF
D003625:Data Collection / Q000592:standards*; D015201:Meta-Analysis as Topic; D011786:Quality Control; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic / Q000592:standards*; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity