title: A methodological survey of the analysis, reporting and interpretation of Absolute Risk ReductiOn in systematic revieWs (ARROW): a study protocol.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Clinicians, providers and guideline panels use absolute effects to weigh the advantages and downsides of treatment alternatives. Relative measures have the potential to mislead readers. However, little is known about the reporting of absolute measures in systematic reviews. The objectives of our study are to determine the proportion of systematic reviews that report absolute measures of effect for the most important outcomes, and ascertain how they are analyzed, reported and interpreted.
  
  
  METHODS
  We will conduct a methodological survey of systematic reviews published in 2010. We will conduct a 1:1 stratified random sampling of Cochrane vs. non-Cochrane systematic reviews. We will calculate the proportion of systematic reviews reporting at least one absolute estimate of effect for the most patient-important outcome for the comparison of interest. We will conduct multivariable logistic regression analyses with the reporting of an absolute estimate of effect as the dependent variable and pre-specified study characteristics as the independent variables. For systematic reviews reporting an absolute estimate of effect, we will document the methods used for the analysis, reporting and interpretation of the absolute estimate.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our methodological survey will inform current practices regarding reporting of absolute estimates in systematic reviews. Our findings may influence recommendations on reporting, conduct and interpretation of absolute estimates. Our results are likely to be of interest to systematic review authors, funding agencies, clinicians, guideline developers and journal editors.
authors: Iberoamerican Cochrane Centre, Institute of Biomedical Research (IIB-Sant Pau), Barcelona, Spain. palonso@santpau.cat.
authors: Pablo
authors: P
authors: Alonso-Coello
authors: Alonso
authors: A
authors: Carrasco-Labra
authors: Romina
authors: R
authors: Brignardello-Petersen
authors: Ignacio
authors: I
authors: Neumann
authors: Elie A
authors: EA
authors: Akl
authors: Xin
authors: X
authors: Sun
authors: Bradley C
authors: BC
authors: Johnston
authors: Matthias
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authors: Briel
authors: Jason W
authors: JW
authors: Busse
authors: Demián
authors: D
authors: Glujovsky
authors: Carlos E
authors: CE
authors: Granados
authors: Alfonso
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authors: Iorio
authors: Affan
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authors: Irfan
authors: Laura
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authors: Martínez García
authors: Laura M
authors: LM
authors: García
authors: Reem A
authors: RA
authors: Mustafa
authors: Anggie
authors: A
authors: Ramirez-Morera
authors: Iván
authors: I
authors: Solà
authors: Kari A O
authors: KA
authors: Tikkinen
authors: Shanil
authors: S
authors: Ebrahim
authors: Per O
authors: PO
authors: Vandvik
authors: Yuqing
authors: Y
authors: Zhang
authors: Anna
authors: A
authors: Selva
authors: Andrea J
authors: AJ
authors: Sanabria
authors: Oscar E
authors: OE
authors: Zazueta
authors: Robin W M
authors: RW
authors: Vernooij
authors: Holger J
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authors: Schünemann
authors: Gordon H
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authors: Guyatt
mesh_terms: D003627:Data Interpretation, Statistical; D019317:Evidence-Based Medicine; D006801:Humans; D061366:Numbers Needed To Treat; D012107:Research Design; D058028:Research Report / Q000592:standards*; D000078202:Systematic Reviews as Topic