Association of Study Quality with Completeness of Reporting: Have Completeness of Reporting and Quality of Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses in Major Radiology Journals Changed Since Publication of the PRISMA Statement?

This study provides an assessment of the reporting and quality of systematic reviews and meta analyses in the radiology literature. The study reviewed 130 studies from 11 journals, and assessed them for compliance with the PRISMA (reporting) and AMSTAR (methodology/quality) guidelines.

The results are comparable to similar studies in other fields of medicine, with higher scores post publication of PRISMA in 2009. There was strong positive correlation between the PRISMA and AMSTAR results.  There was high variability between journals, 'Radiology' had the highest PRISMA reported items and AJNR had the lowest at 19.6/27.  Specific items that are consistently weak (and should be paid attention to by authors of SR/MA) are registration of study protocol and assessment for bias. 

Reference: Tunis et al., Radiology, 2013 Jul 3. (epub).

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