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Table 3 Characteristics of the random sample of reviews with at least one included study rated at high risk of outcome non-reporting bias

From: Rethinking the assessment of risk of bias due to selective reporting: a cross-sectional study

Characteristics

Number (%), of n = 100

Number of included studies

 

 Total number of studies included in review, median (IQR)

13 (7–32)

 Number of studies per review at high risk of outcome non-reporting bias, Median (IQR)

2 (1–5)

 Percentage of studies per review at high risk of outcome non-reporting bias, Median (IQR)

20 (11–39)

High risk outcome(s) stated in the risk of bias table

 

 One non-/partially reported outcome clearly specified

27 (27)

 More than one non-/partially reported outcome clearly specified

52 (52)

 No outcome specified (e.g. only stated that “Some outcomes were not reported”)

21 (21)

Reviewer-perceived importance of high-risk outcome(s)

 

 At least one was a primary review outcome

52 (66)a

 All were secondary review outcomes

27 (34)a

Synthesis of high-risk outcome(s)

 

 At least one outcome was synthesised in a meta-analysis (based on data from studies that completely reported the outcome)

51 (65)a

 All outcome(s) were synthesised/summarised narratively

28 (35)a

Location in the review where the synthesis of at least one high-risk outcome was reported

 

 Main text

79 (100)a

 Abstract

63 (80)a

 Summary of Findings table

47 (59)a

  1. aThe denominator is 79 because 21 reviews did not specify in the risk of bias table the outcome that was not/partially reported