Items | Criteria | 2015 n = 61 | 2014 n = 59 | 2012 n = 84 |
---|---|---|---|---|
Title | Identify the report as a meta-analysis | 60 (98.4) | 58 (98.3) | 78 (92.9) |
Objectives | The research question including components such as participants, interventions, comparators, and outcomes | 52 (85.2) | 45 (76.3) | 68 (81.0) |
Eligibility criteria | Study and report characteristics used as criteria for inclusion | 53 (86.9) | 51 (86.4) | 76 (90.5) |
Information sources | Key databases searched and search dates | 7 (11.5) | 15 (25.4) | 11 (13.3) |
Risk of bias | Methods of assessing risk of bias | 30 (49.2) | 40 (67.8) | 43 (51.2) |
Included studies | Number and type of included studies and participants and relevant characteristics of studies | 36 (59.0) | 35 (59.3) | 54 (64.3) |
Synthesis of results | Results for main outcomes (benefits and harms), including summary measures and confidence intervals | 61 (100) | 42 (71.2) | 57 (67.9) |
Description of the effect | Direction of the effect and size of the effect in terms meaningful to clinicians and patients | 46 (75.4) | 34 (57.6) | 51 (60.7) |
Strengths and Limitations of evidence | Brief summary of strengths and limitations of evidence | 12 (19.7) | 18 (30.5) | 33 (39.3) |
Interpretation | General interpretation of the results and important implications | 61 (100) | 51 (86.4) | 69 (82.1) |
Funding | Primary source of funding for the review | 24 (39.3) | 12 (20.3) | 24 (28.6) |
Registration | Registration number and registry name | 14 (23.0) | 3 (5.1) | 2 (2.4) |