A PRISMA assessment of the reporting quality of systematic reviews in orthodontics.
OBJECTIVE
To assess the reporting quality of Cochrane and non-Cochrane systematic reviews (SR) in orthodontics and to compare the reporting quality (PRISMA score) with methodological quality (AMSTAR criteria).


METHODS
Systematic reviews (n  =  109) published between January 2000 and July 2011 in five leading orthodontic journals were identified and included. The quality of reporting of the included reviews was assessed by two authors in accordance with the PRISMA guidelines. Each article was assigned a cumulative grade based on fulfillment of the applicable criteria, and an overall percentage score was assigned. Descriptive statistics and simple and multiple linear regression analyses were undertaken.


RESULTS
The mean overall PRISMA score was 64.1% (95% confidence interval [CI], 62%-65%). The quality of reporting was considerably better in reviews published in the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews (P < .001) than in non-Cochrane reviews. Both multivariable and univariable analysis indicated that journal of publication and number of authors was significantly associated with the PRISMA score. The association between AMSTAR score and modified PRISMA score was also found to be highly statistically significant.


CONCLUSIONS
Compliance of orthodontic SRs published in orthodontic journals with PRISMA guidelines was deficient in several areas. The quality of reporting assessed using PRISMA guidelines was significantly better in orthodontic SRs published in the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews.
Barts and The London School of Medicine and Dentistry, London, UK. padhraig.fleming@gmail.com
Padhraig S
PS
Fleming
Jadbinder
J
Seehra
Argy
A
Polychronopoulou
Zbys
Z
Fedorowicz
Nikolaos
N
Pandis
D015706:Bibliometrics; D009970:Orthodontics; D010506:Periodicals as Topic / Q000592:standards*; D012196:Review Literature as Topic