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How is AMSTAR applied by authors - a call for better reporting
Dawid Pieper1, Nadja Koensgen2, Jessica Breuing2
1Institute for Research in Operative Medicine, Faculty of Health, School of Medicine, Witten/Herdecke University, Ostmerheimer Str. 200, 51109, Cologne, Germany. dawid.pieper@uni-wh.de.
BMC Medical Research Methodology
|June 20, 2018
Summary
The Assessment of Multiple Systematic Reviews (AMSTAR) tool is often modified and inconsistently reported, especially in reviews not focused on randomized controlled trials. Authors need to ensure correct application and reporting of AMSTAR for accurate evidence synthesis.
Area of Science:
- Evidence-based medicine
- Systematic review methodology
- Research quality assessment
Background:
- The Assessment of Multiple Systematic Reviews (AMSTAR) tool is a key instrument for evaluating the methodological rigor of systematic reviews (SRs).
- AMSTAR was originally developed and validated for SRs of randomized controlled trials (RCTs).
- The applicability and consistent use of AMSTAR for SRs encompassing other study designs remain uncertain.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the practical application of the AMSTAR tool by researchers.
- To determine if authors adhere to the original intent and validation scope of AMSTAR.
- To assess the reporting quality of AMSTAR usage in scientific literature.
Main Methods:
- A comprehensive literature search was conducted in MEDLINE (via PubMed) up to October 2016.
- Full-text screening of retrieved studies was performed by one reviewer, with a second reviewer verifying exclusions.
- Data extraction and verification involved two reviewers, with discrepancies resolved by consensus or a third reviewer.
Main Results:
- A total of 247 studies applying AMSTAR were identified, with a median of 17 reviews per study.
- AMSTAR modifications were noted in 23% of studies, and scoring methods varied significantly, with over a third failing to report score calculation.
- Overviews of reviews including non-RCT study designs were less likely to report limitations regarding study designs or overall AMSTAR scores.
Conclusions:
- There is a need for increased attention to the correct utilization and reporting of assessment tools like AMSTAR in evidence synthesis.
- Authors, peer reviewers, and editors should prioritize methodological accuracy in reporting systematic reviews.
- Authors conducting overviews of reviews should incorporate methodological expertise, particularly when dealing with diverse study designs.
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