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Updated: May 10, 2026
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The MODS method for diagnosis of tuberculosis and multidrug resistant tuberculosis
Published on: August 11, 2008
Methodological and reporting quality of systematic reviews on tuberculosis
1Department of Epidemiology, Biostatistics and Occupational Health, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada.
Summary
Systematic reviews for tuberculosis (TB) guidelines are well reported but of moderate to low methodological quality. Improving training and guideline adherence can enhance the quality of future TB systematic reviews.
Area of Science:
- Public Health
- Evidence-Based Medicine
- Scientific Review Methodology
Background:
- Systematic reviews are crucial for developing tuberculosis (TB) treatment guidelines.
- Current data is lacking on the quality and transparency of TB systematic reviews.
- Assessing these reviews is vital for reliable guideline development.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the methodological quality and reporting transparency of systematic reviews informing TB guidelines.
- To identify areas for improvement in the conduct and reporting of TB systematic reviews.
Main Methods:
- Searched four databases for systematic reviews published between 2005 and 2010.
- Assessed methodological quality using the A Measurement Tool to Assess Systematic Reviews (AMSTAR).
- Evaluated the quality of reporting using the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) checklist.
Main Results:
- Of 137 included reviews, most met few AMSTAR quality criteria (e.g., 67% for appropriate methods, 72% for comprehensive search).
- Reporting was generally good for PRISMA items (over 60-76%), but key elements like full search strategy (30%) and risk of bias (21-27%) were often missing.
- Conflict of interest disclosure was very low (4%).
Conclusions:
- TB systematic reviews are generally well reported but exhibit moderate to low methodological quality.
- Enhancing the quality requires better training for researchers.
- Adherence to reporting guidelines and systematic review registration can improve future TB reviews.
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