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Table 4 Comparison of overall reporting quality of newborn and child health systematic review (SR) reports vs. protocols

From: Are child-centric aspects in newborn and child health systematic review and meta-analysis protocols and reports adequately reported?—two systematic reviews

 

Proportion (%) of “Yes” responses for the total (no.) of reviews eligible for scoring

Itema number

Item

SR reports (N = 248)

SR protocols (N = 76)

p value

 

Title

1/1a)

Identify the report as a systematic review, meta-analysis, or both for pediatric population as a focus of review, if applicable

62.1 (248)

72.4 (76)

0.102

 

Introduction

 

Rationale

5/6)

Describe the rationale for the review in the context of what is already known

 

In the contexts of the synthesized evidence in adults or other pediatric groups (non-targeted), explain the rationale for synthesizing evidence for the targeted pediatric age group(s). Provide hypotheses that relate to the targeted pediatric age group(s)

3.6 (248)

1.3 (76)

0.309

 

Objectives

4/7)

Provide an explicit statement of questions being addressed with reference to targeted pediatric age groups, interventions, comparisons, outcomes, and study design (PICOS)

0.8 (248)

0 (76)

0.433

 

Methods

 

Eligibility criteria

6/8)

Specify study characteristics (e.g., PICOS, length of follow-up) and report characteristics (e.g., years considered, language, publication status) used as criteria for eligibility, giving rationale

6a/8a)

Justify the targeted pediatric age group(s) selected

74.2 (248)

64.5 (76)

0.1

6b/8b)

Intervention: Justify the intervention for the targeted pediatric age group(s) addressing potential age-related differences in intervention effects

67.7 (248)

55.3 (76)

0.047*

6c/8c)

Provide rationale for extrapolation or adaptation of adult intervention, if any

29.6 (27)

16.7 (18)

0.331

6d/8d)

Comparators: Explain the choice of comparator(s) and, if applicable, evidence for the active comparator and/or standard of care for targeted pediatric age group(s)

9.7 (248)

17.1 (76)

0.076

6e/8e)

Outcomes: List and define all the primary outcomes addressed for the targeted pediatric age group(s). List and define growth and development outcomes, adverse outcomes (events), if applicable

41.1 (248)

55.3 (76)

0.031*

6f/8f)

Outcomes: Explain the clinical relevance of the selected outcomes (benefits and harms) for the targeted pediatric age group(s)

34.3 (248)

28.9 (76)

0.388

6g/8g)

Outcomes: Explain the validity, feasibility and responsiveness of the outcome measures for the pre-targeted pediatric age group(s)

0 (248)

0 (76)

p > 0.999

 

Search

8/10)

Present full electronic search strategy for at least one database, including any limits used, such that it could be repeated

   

8a/10a)

Describe the search strategy and terms (including database specific MeSH terms for pediatric population) used to address the targeted pediatric age group(s)

44 (248)

48.7 (76)

0.469

 

Synthesis of results

14/15b)

Describe the methods of handling data and combining results of studies, if done, including measures of consistency (e.g., I2) for each meta-analysis

   

14a/15b)

For studies that included pediatrics and adults without a subgroup analysis of the pediatric population, describe how the data on targeted pediatric age group(s) were used in the analysis

0 (89)

0 (27)

p > 0.999

 

Additional analyses

16/15c)

Describe methods of additional analyses (e.g., sensitivity or subgroup analyses for targeted pediatric age group(s), meta-regression), if done, indicating which were pre-specified

54.9 (142)

61 (59)

0.429

 

Funding

27/5)

Describe sources of funding for the systematic review and other support (e.g., supply of data) and role of funders for the systematic review

27a/5a)

For each included trial in a systematic review, indicate (a plan to include) the source of financial support (such as Government, Academia or Industry), if any, in the trial(s)

5.6 (248)

13.2 (76)

0.03*

  1. *p-value correspondent to statistical significant at < 0.05
  2. aItem numbers are potential neonatal and child health modification (bold) and extension (a–g) items for PRISMA-C/PC