Systematic review of the empirical evidence of study publication bias and outcome reporting bias

Dwan, Kerry; Altman, Douglas G; Arnaiz, Juan A; Bloom, Jill; Chan, An-Wen; Cronin, Eugenia; Decullier, Evelyne; Easterbrook, Philippa J; Von Elm, Erik; Gamble, Carrol; Ghersi, Davina; Ioannidis, John P A; Simes, John; Williamson, Paula R (2008). Systematic review of the empirical evidence of study publication bias and outcome reporting bias. PLoS ONE, 3(8), e3081. Lawrence, Kans.: Public Library of Science 10.1371/journal.pone.0003081

[img]
Preview
Text
Dwan PLoSONE 2008.pdf - Published Version
Available under License Creative Commons: Attribution (CC-BY).

Download (1MB) | Preview

BACKGROUND: The increased use of meta-analysis in systematic reviews of healthcare interventions has highlighted several types of bias that can arise during the completion of a randomised controlled trial. Study publication bias has been recognised as a potential threat to the validity of meta-analysis and can make the readily available evidence unreliable for decision making. Until recently, outcome reporting bias has received less attention. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: We review and summarise the evidence from a series of cohort studies that have assessed study publication bias and outcome reporting bias in randomised controlled trials. Sixteen studies were eligible of which only two followed the cohort all the way through from protocol approval to information regarding publication of outcomes. Eleven of the studies investigated study publication bias and five investigated outcome reporting bias. Three studies have found that statistically significant outcomes had a higher odds of being fully reported compared to non-significant outcomes (range of odds ratios: 2.2 to 4.7). In comparing trial publications to protocols, we found that 40-62% of studies had at least one primary outcome that was changed, introduced, or omitted. We decided not to undertake meta-analysis due to the differences between studies. CONCLUSIONS: Recent work provides direct empirical evidence for the existence of study publication bias and outcome reporting bias. There is strong evidence of an association between significant results and publication; studies that report positive or significant results are more likely to be published and outcomes that are statistically significant have higher odds of being fully reported. Publications have been found to be inconsistent with their protocols. Researchers need to be aware of the problems of both types of bias and efforts should be concentrated on improving the reporting of trials.

Item Type:

Journal Article (Original Article)

Division/Institute:

04 Faculty of Medicine > Pre-clinic Human Medicine > Institute of Social and Preventive Medicine (ISPM)

UniBE Contributor:

von Elm, Erik Björn

ISSN:

1932-6203

ISBN:

18769481

Publisher:

Public Library of Science

Language:

English

Submitter:

Factscience Import

Date Deposited:

04 Oct 2013 15:04

Last Modified:

05 Dec 2022 14:19

Publisher DOI:

10.1371/journal.pone.0003081

PubMed ID:

18769481

Web of Science ID:

000264796600003

BORIS DOI:

10.7892/boris.27921

URI:

https://boris.unibe.ch/id/eprint/27921 (FactScience: 113721)

Actions (login required)

Edit item Edit item
Provide Feedback