Bibliographic study showed improving methodology of meta-analyses published in leading journals 1993-2002.
OBJECTIVE
To assess the methodology of meta-analyses published in leading general and specialist medical journals over a 10-year period.


METHODS
Volumes 1993-2002 of four general medicine journals and four specialist journals were searched by hand for meta-analyses including at least five controlled trials. Characteristics were assessed using a standardized questionnaire.


RESULTS
A total of 272 meta-analyses, which included a median of 11 trials (range 5-195), were assessed. Most (81%) were published in general medicine journals. The median (range) number of databases searched increased from 1 (1-9) in 1993/1994 to 3.5 (1-21) in 2001/2002, P<0.0001. The proportion of meta-analyses including searches by hand (10% in 1993/1994, 25% in 2001/2002, P=0.005), searches of the grey literature (29%, 51%, P=0.010 by chi-square test), and of trial registers (10%, 32%, P=0.025) also increased. Assessments of the quality of trials also became more common (45%, 70%, P=0.008), including whether allocation of patients to treatment groups had been concealed (24%, 60%, P=0.001). The methodological and reporting quality was consistently higher in general medicine compared to specialist journals.


CONCLUSIONS
Many meta-analyses published in leading journals have important methodological limitations. The situation has improved in recent years but considerable room for further improvements remains.
Gerber
Stefan
S
Department of Social and Preventive Medicine, University of Bern, Finkenhubelweg 11, CH-3012 Berne, Switzerland.
Tallon
Deborah
D
Trelle
Sven
S
Schneider
Martin
M
Jüni
Peter
P
Egger
Matthias
M
D016206:Databases, Bibliographic; D006801:Humans; D015201:Meta-Analysis as Topic; D010506:Periodicals as Topic; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic / Q000379:methods; D012107:Research Design