Using journal impact factors to correct for the publication bias of medical studies.
Publication bias of the results of medical studies can invalidate evidence-based medicine. The existing methodology for modeling this essentially relies upon the symmetry of the funnel plot. We present a new method of modeling publication bias that uses this information plus the impact factors of the publishing journals. A simple model of the publication process enables the estimation of bias-corrected intervention effects. The procedure is illustrated using a meta-analysis of the effectiveness of single-dose oral aspirin for acute pain, and results are also obtained for five other meta-analyses. The method enables the fitting of a wide range of models and is considered more flexible than other ways of compensating for publication bias. The model also provides the basis of a statistical test for the existence of publication bias. Use of the new methodology to supplement existing methods is recommended, in the context of a sensitivity analysis.
Baker
Rose
R
Centre for Operational Research and Applied Statistics, University of Salford, Salford M5 4WT, UK. r.d.baker@salford.ac.uk
Jackson
Dan
D
D018712:Analgesics, Non-Narcotic / Q000008:administration & dosage; D001241:Aspirin / Q000008:administration & dosage; D015982:Bias; D001699:Biometry; D019317:Evidence-Based Medicine / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D016013:Likelihood Functions; D015201:Meta-Analysis as Topic; D015233:Models, Statistical; D016017:Odds Ratio; D010146:Pain / Q000188:drug therapy; D010506:Periodicals as Topic / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011643:Publishing / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D013269:Stochastic Processes
D018712:Analgesics, Non-Narcotic; D001241:Aspirin