Reporting quality of systematic review abstracts in leading oral implantology journals.
OBJECTIVE
Abstracts of systematic reviews are of critical importance, as consumers of research often do not access the full text. This study aimed to assess the reporting quality of systematic review (SR) abstracts in leading oral implantology journals.


METHODS
Six specialty journals were screened for SRs between 2008 and 2012. A 16-item checklist, based on the PRISMA statement, was used to examine the completeness of abstract reporting.


RESULTS
Ninety-three SR abstracts were included in this study. The majority were published in Clinical Oral Implants Research (43%). The mean overall reporting quality score was 72.5% (95% CI: 70.8-74.2). Most abstracts were structured (97.9%), adequately reporting objectives (97.9%) and conclusions (93.6%). Conversely, inadequate reporting of methods of the study, background (79.6%), appraisal (65.6%), and data synthesis (65.6%) were observed. Registration of reviews was not reported in any of the included abstracts. Multivariate analysis revealed no difference in reporting quality with respect to continent, number of authors, or meta-analysis conduct.


CONCLUSIONS
The results of this study suggest that the reporting quality of systematic review abstracts in implantology journals requires further improvement.


CONCLUSIONS
Better reporting of SR abstracts is particularly important in ensuring the reliability of research findings, ultimately promoting the practice of evidence-based dentistry. Optimal reporting of SR abstracts should be encouraged, preferably by endorsing the PRISMA for abstracts guidelines.
Department of Preventive and Community Dentistry, School of Dentistry, University of Athens, Athens, Greece.
Juliana
J
Kiriakou
Nikolaos
N
Pandis
Padhraig S
PS
Fleming
Phoebus
P
Madianos
Argy
A
Polychronopoulou
D006801:Humans; D000043:Abstracting and Indexing / Q000592:standards; D001319:Authorship; D057189:Checklist; D003757:Dental Implantation; D017408:Guidelines as Topic; D015201:Meta-Analysis as Topic; D010506:Periodicals as Topic / Q000592:standards; D011643:Publishing / Q000592:standards; D011786:Quality Control; D012107:Research Design / Q000592:standards; D000078202:Systematic Reviews as Topic
Abstracts; Quality; Reporting; Systematic reviews