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Analysis: Systematic reviews in plastic surgery lack reporting quality

An analysis recently published in JAMA Facial Plastic Surgery found that the systematic reviews in plastic surgery journals lacked reporting quality.

Researchers searched the Medline and Embase databases for systematic reviews published in five major plastic surgery journals between 2013 and 2014. Two independent teams conducted screening, identification and data extraction, with articles reviewed for compliance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) checklist.

Researchers analyzed the data between Jan. 1 to July 30, 2015.

Seventy-nine of 163 initial articles were included in the study, with the median PRISMA score 16 of 27 items (59%; range, 6%-26%; 95% CI, 14-17). None of the articles met all 27 criteria in the PRISMA 2009 statement.

The PRISMA checklist items had a high variance of compliance, including five items with a compliance of higher than 90% and 11 items having compliance rates below 40%.

“This finding does not suggest poor design or conduct of the study itself; the PRISMA statement was not intentionally developed to improve the conduct of systematic reviews and meta-analyses,” the researchers wrote.

The items with the poorest compliance were related to the use of review protocol, seen only four articles (5%), and presentation of data on the risk of bias, in only 14 articles (18%). Description of rationales (78 articles; 99%), courses of funding other support (75 articles; 95%) and inclusion of a structured summary in the abstract (75 articles; 95%) had the highest compliance.

“The reporting quality of systematic reviews and meta analyses in plastic surgery needs improvement,” the researchers concluded. “Enforcement of compliance through journal submission systems, as well as improved education, awareness, and a cohesive strategy among all stakeholders, is called for. Further study assessing barriers to compliance with the PRISMA statement is required.” – by Bruce Thiel

Disclosure: Lee reports no relevant financial disclosures. Please see the study for a full list of relevant financial disclosures.