Dekkers, Olaf M; Vandenbroucke, Jan P; Cevallos, Myriam; Renehan, Andrew G; Altman, Douglas G; Egger, Matthias (2019). COSMOS-E: Guidance on conducting systematic reviews and meta-analyses of observational studies of etiology. PLoS medicine, 16(2), e1002742. Public Library of Science 10.1371/journal.pmed.1002742
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BACKGROUND
To our knowledge, no publication providing overarching guidance on the conduct of systematic reviews of observational studies of etiology exists.
METHODS AND FINDINGS
Conducting Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses of Observational Studies of Etiology (COSMOS-E) provides guidance on all steps in systematic reviews of observational studies of etiology, from shaping the research question, defining exposure and outcomes, to assessing the risk of bias and statistical analysis. The writing group included researchers experienced in meta-analyses and observational studies of etiology. Standard peer-review was performed. While the structure of systematic reviews of observational studies on etiology may be similar to that for systematic reviews of randomised controlled trials, there are specific tasks within each component that differ. Examples include assessment for confounding, selection bias, and information bias. In systematic reviews of observational studies of etiology, combining studies in meta-analysis may lead to more precise estimates, but such greater precision does not automatically remedy potential bias. Thorough exploration of sources of heterogeneity is key when assessing the validity of estimates and causality.
CONCLUSION
As many reviews of observational studies on etiology are being performed, this document may provide researchers with guidance on how to conduct and analyse such reviews.
Item Type: |
Journal Article (Review Article) |
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Division/Institute: |
04 Faculty of Medicine > Pre-clinic Human Medicine > Institute of Social and Preventive Medicine (ISPM) 04 Faculty of Medicine > Faculty Institutions > Teaching Staff, Faculty of Medicine |
UniBE Contributor: |
Cevallos Rosero, Myriam, Egger, Matthias |
Subjects: |
600 Technology > 610 Medicine & health 300 Social sciences, sociology & anthropology > 360 Social problems & social services |
ISSN: |
1549-1277 |
Publisher: |
Public Library of Science |
Language: |
English |
Submitter: |
Beatrice Minder Wyssmann |
Date Deposited: |
04 Mar 2019 13:41 |
Last Modified: |
05 Dec 2022 15:26 |
Publisher DOI: |
10.1371/journal.pmed.1002742 |
PubMed ID: |
30789892 |
BORIS DOI: |
10.7892/boris.127353 |
URI: |
https://boris.unibe.ch/id/eprint/127353 |
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