title: Summaries of findings, descriptions of interventions, and information about adverse effects would make reviews more informative.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To describe challenges when extracting and presenting relevant, consistent, and accessible information from systematic reviews.
  
  
  METHODS
  We systematically selected comparisons and outcomes from 18 Cochrane reviews, evaluated the quality of evidence for each outcome using the GRADE system, and developed standardized patient information. We evaluated the information using patient, review author, researcher, and clinician feedback.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Challenges included large numbers of comparisons and outcomes; missing information about treatments and adverse effects; and variations in how effect was measured and presented. By selecting comparisons and outcomes based on patient-relevance, quality, and nonredundancy, we halved the number of outcomes. We prepared information about treatments and adverse effects using other sources. We framed outcomes consistently and standardized the presentation of magnitude of effect.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The incorporation of summary of findings tables in reviews could address these challenges. Problems could also be reduced if review groups agreed upon standard outcomes; excluded less relevant outcomes; incorporated more information about interventions and adverse effects; and implemented clearer guidelines for the presentation of results.
authors.affiliation: Norwegian Health Services Research Centre, Pb 7004 St. Olavs Plass, 0130 Oslo, Norway. claire.glenton@kunnskapssenteret.no
authors.forename: Claire
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Glenton
authors.forename: Vigdis
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Underland
authors.forename: Michelle
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kho
authors.forename: Victoria
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Pennick
authors.forename: Andrew D
authors.initials: AD
authors.lastname: Oxman
mesh_terms: D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D003627:Data Interpretation, Statistical; D019317:Evidence-Based Medicine; D006801:Humans; D015201:Meta-Analysis as Topic; D012196:Review Literature as Topic; D016896:Treatment Outcome