Risk of bias in overviews of reviews: a scoping review of methodological guidance and four‐item checklist

Abstract

Considering the intended function of proposed overviews with the corresponding methodological conditions may improve the quality of this burgeoning publication type. Copyright © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Selecting and implementing overview methods: implications from five exemplar overviews

“…The key methodological challenges identified within each of the exemplar overviews were systematically compared and contrasted with the recognised areas of debate [3], which were published after consensus had been reached on the methodological challenges identified within our exemplar overviews. Each of the methodological challenges from our exemplar overviews were tabulated, and overview authors considered levels of complementarity [17, 18] between the recognised areas of debate and the methodological challenges identified from our exemplar overviews, applying categories of “agreement” (the methodological challenges identified within the exemplar overviews is in agreement with the findings of Ballard [3]), “dissonance” (the methodological challenges identified within the exemplar overviews differs from, or conflicts with, the findings of Ballard [3]) or “silence” (the methodological challenges identified within the exemplar overviews were not addressed within the findings of Ballard [3, 17, 18].…”

“…While there are some areas of agreement in relation to optimal overview methods, particularly in the early stages of overview completion [5], there remains considerable uncertainty around some key areas of methodology [3, 5, 7, 8] and a need for clearer standards and reporting guidance, supported by research evidence, to enhance methodological quality of overviews [1–3, 5, 6]. …”

“…Subsequent to our author group reaching consensus, Ballard [3] published the results of a scoping review of methodological guidance for overviews. This synthesis identified areas where there was consensus relating to overview methods and highlighted five key areas where there was debate or uncertainty including “(i) overlapping systematic reviews, (ii) the scope of systematic reviews, (iii) evaluating the quality and reporting of included research, (iv) updating included systematic reviews, and (v) synthesizing and reporting the results of included systematic reviews” [3].…”

“…This synthesis identified areas where there was consensus relating to overview methods and highlighted five key areas where there was debate or uncertainty including “(i) overlapping systematic reviews, (ii) the scope of systematic reviews, (iii) evaluating the quality and reporting of included research, (iv) updating included systematic reviews, and (v) synthesizing and reporting the results of included systematic reviews” [3]. Since the search period of this comprehensive synthesis, a number of further papers relevant to overview methods have been published adding to the discussion and debate around key areas of uncertainty.…”

“…These include summaries of guidance relating to overview methods [5], descriptions and debate relating to the use of GRADE [10–12] and AMSTAR [13], the development of a new tool to assess risk of bias (ROBIS [14]), and protocols for ongoing work in this field [15, 16]. The specific debate around methodological challenges presented by Ballard [3], and these subsequent related publications, afforded us a timely opportunity to compare the results of our independent consensus arising from our five exemplar overviews and to explore the practical implications of the current uncertainties around overview methods for authors planning protocols for new overviews.…”