Novel presentational approaches were developed for reporting network meta-analysis

Area of Science:

• Biostatistics
• Health Services Research
• Evidence Synthesis

Background:

• Network meta-analysis (NMA) is crucial for comparing multiple treatments.
• Current reporting methods can limit NMA accessibility and interpretability.
• Standardized graphical tools are needed to enhance NMA communication.

Purpose of the Study:

• To introduce novel graphical tools for reporting NMA results.
• To improve the accessibility, transparency, interpretability, and acceptability of NMA.
• To cater to both technical analysts and nontechnical clinicians.

Main Methods:

• Identified key NMA result components based on NICE guidelines.
• Developed three novel graphs using familiar chart types (bar, line, pie).
• Adhered to established principles of good graphical design.

Main Results:

• Identified three essential NMA reporting components: relative effects/uncertainty, probability of being best, and heterogeneity.
• Two graphs compare NMA and pairwise meta-analysis results, including probability best, rankings, heterogeneity, and prediction intervals.
• A third graph visualizes intervention rankings for easy identification of top-performing treatments.

Conclusions:

• The developed graphical tools effectively display NMA results tailored to specific research questions.
• These tools enhance the understanding and application of NMA findings across different user groups.
• The graphical approach increases the overall utility and acceptance of NMA in clinical decision-making.