Table 3 Differences in reporting characteristics and the use of restrictions between Cochrane and Non-Cochrane reviews indexed in MEDLINE (via PubMed), 2000–2019
From: Restrictions and their reporting in systematic reviews of effectiveness: an observational study
Characteristics * | Cochrane reviews (n = 81) | Non-Cochrane reviews (n = 454) | Total (n = 535) |
|---|---|---|---|
Named article as a SR | 19/81 (23.5%) | 349/454 (76.9%) | 368/535 (68.8%) |
PRISMA referenced | 0/81 (0%) | 166/454 (36.6%) | 166/535 (31.0%) |
Date of search reported | 79/81 (97.5%) | 399/454 (87.9%) | 478/535 (89.4%) |
Full search strategy available | 62/81 (76.5%) | 225/441 (51.0%) | 287/522 (55.0%) |
Assessment of validity | 74/76 (97.4%) | 334/453 (73.4%) | 408/529 (77.1%) |
Flow chart available | 35/81 (43.2%) | 377/452 (83.4%) | 412/533 (77.3%) |
Restriction of publication period | |||
Not reported | 18/81 (22.2%) | 60/454 (13.2%) | 78/535 (14.6%) |
Without restriction of period | 55/81 (67.9%) | 253/454 (55.7%) | 308/535 (57.6%) |
With restriction of period | 8/81 (9.9%) | 141/454 (31.1%) | 149/535 (27.9%) |
Restriction justified | 5/8 (62.5%) | 28/141 (19.9%) | 33/149 (22.2%) |
Restriction of study type | |||
Not reported | 0/81 (0%) | 102/454 (22.5%) | 102/535 (19.1%) |
Only RCTs included | 46/81 (56.8%) | 168/454 (37.0%) | 214/535 (40.0%) |
NRSI and RCTs included | 35/81 (43.2%) | 184/454 (40.5%) | 219/535 (40.9%) |
Eligibility of study type justified ** | 4/81 (4.9%) | 24/352 (6.8%) | 28/433 (6.5%) |
Restriction of language | |||
Not reported | 17/81 (21.0%) | 81/454 (17.8%) | 98/535 (18.3%) |
Without language restriction | 60/81 (74.1%) | 129/454 (28.4%) | 189/535 (35.3%) |
With language restriction | 4/81 (4.9%) | 244/454 (53.7%) | 248/535 (46.4%) |
Restriction justified | 1/4 (25.0%) | 7/244 (2.9%) | 8/248 (3.2%) |
Point of language restriction | |||
Unclear | 1/4 (25.0%) | 129/244 (52.9%) | 130/248 (52.4%) |
Search strategy | 0/4 (0%) | 51/244 (20.9%) | 51/248 (20.6%) |
Screening | 3/4 (75.0%) | 64/244 (26.2%) | 67/248 (27.0%) |
Failed to report at least one of the restrictions considered | 29/81 (35.8%) | 192/454 (42.3%) | 221/535 (41.3%) |