title: The quality of reporting methods and results in network meta-analyses: an overview of reviews and suggestions for improvement.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Some have suggested the quality of reporting of network meta-analyses (a technique used to synthesize information to compare multiple interventions) is sub-optimal. We sought to review information addressing this claim.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To conduct an overview of existing evaluations of quality of reporting in network meta-analyses and indirect treatment comparisons, and to compile a list of topics which may require detailed reporting guidance to enhance future reporting quality.
  
  
  METHODS
  An electronic search of Medline and the Cochrane Registry of methodologic studies (January 2004-August 2013) was performed by an information specialist. Studies describing findings from quality of reporting assessments were sought. Screening of abstracts and full texts was performed by two team members. Descriptors related to all aspects of reporting a network meta-analysis were summarized.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We included eight reports exploring the quality of reporting of network meta-analyses. From past reviews, authors found several aspects of network meta-analyses were inadequately reported, including primary information about literature searching, study selection, and risk of bias evaluations; statement of the underlying assumptions for network meta-analysis, as well as efforts to verify their validity; details of statistical models used for analyses (including information for both Bayesian and Frequentist approaches); completeness of reporting of findings; and approaches for summarizing probability measures as additional important considerations.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  While few studies were identified, several deficiencies in the current reporting of network meta-analyses were observed. These findings reinforce the need to develop reporting guidance for network meta-analyses. Findings from this review will be used to guide next steps in the development of reporting guidance for network meta-analysis in the format of an extension of the PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analysis) Statement.
authors.affiliation: Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada; Faculty of Medicine, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada.
authors.forename: Brian
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Hutton
authors.affiliation: Department of Hygiene and Epidemiology, School of Medicine, University of Ioannina, Ioannina, Greece.
authors.forename: Georgia
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Salanti
authors.affiliation: Department of Hygiene and Epidemiology, School of Medicine, University of Ioannina, Ioannina, Greece.
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Chaimani
authors.affiliation: School of Social and Community Medicine, University of Bristol, Bristol, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Deborah M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Caldwell
authors.affiliation: Center for Evidence-based Medicine, Program in Public Health, Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island, United States of America.
authors.forename: Chris
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Schmid
authors.affiliation: Standard Prevention Research Center, Stanford University, Stanford, California, United States of America; Clinical Epidemiology and Biostatistics, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada.
authors.forename: Kristian
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Thorlund
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada; Standard Prevention Research Center, Stanford University, Stanford, California, United States of America.
authors.forename: Edward
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Mills
authors.affiliation: Division of Pharmacoepidemiology and Pharmacovigilance, Spanish Medicines and Healthcare Products Agency (AEMPS), Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: Ferrán
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Catalá-López
authors.affiliation: Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada.
authors.forename: Lucy
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Turner
authors.affiliation: Oxford Centre for Statistics in Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, United States of America.
authors.forename: Douglas G
authors.initials: DG
authors.lastname: Altman
authors.affiliation: Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada; Faculty of Medicine, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada.
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Moher
mesh_terms: D000043:Abstracting and Indexing; D015201:Meta-Analysis as Topic; D011643:Publishing; D058028:Research Report / Q000592:standards*; D012196:Review Literature as Topic