title: Survey of Cochrane protocols found methods for data extraction from figures not mentioned or unclear.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To analyze whether protocols of Cochrane systematic reviews address data extraction from figures in included trials.
  
  
  METHODS
  Protocols of Cochrane systematic reviews published between May 2013 and May 2014 were screened by two authors independently, and the following data were collected: date of protocol publication, country of authors' origin, number of authors, number of affiliated institutions, Cochrane review group, whether the protocol contains description about data extraction from figures, method of data extraction from figures, and literature reference for a method of data extraction from figures.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Among 589 protocols, 33 (5.6%) mentioned data extraction from figures in Methods section. Only one protocol specified that computer software will be used for data extraction from figures, one specifically indicated that data from figures will not be used, few stated estimation or approximation, whereas others did not provide any description of methodology for data extraction from figures.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Very few protocols of Cochrane systematic reviews mention data extraction from figures, and even when mentioned, methods for data extraction are unclear. Methodology for data extraction from figures should be incorporated into the Cochrane Handbook and new methodological standards for Cochrane systematic reviews.
authors.affiliation: Agency for Medicinal Products and Medical Devices, Department for Quality, Safety and Efficacy Assessment, Ksaverska cesta 4, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia.
authors.forename: Katarina
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Vucic
authors.affiliation: Croatian Cochrane Branch, University of Split School of Medicine, Šoltanska 2, 21000 Split, Croatia.
authors.forename: Antonia
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Jelicic Kadic
authors.affiliation: Croatian Cochrane Branch, University of Split School of Medicine, Šoltanska 2, 21000 Split, Croatia. Electronic address: livia@mefst.hr.
authors.forename: Livia
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Puljak
mesh_terms: D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D003627:Data Interpretation, Statistical; D016208:Databases, Factual / Q000592:standards; D006801:Humans; D012107:Research Design; D012196:Review Literature as Topic
keywords: Computer software; Data extraction; Estimation; Figures; Graphical data; Methodology; Protocol; Systematic reviews; The Cochrane Library