Journal Article

Survey revealed a lack of clarity about recommended methods for meta-analysis of diagnostic accuracy data

Bossuyt, Patrick M., Ochodo, Eleanor A., Leeflang, Mariska M.G., Reitsma, Johannes B.

2013

Overview

To collect reasons for selecting the methods for meta-analysis of diagnostic accuracy from authors of systematic reviews and improve guidance on recommended methods. Online survey in authors of recently published meta-analyses of diagnostic accuracy. We identified 100 eligible reviews, of which 40 had used more advanced methods of meta-analysis (hierarchical random-effects approach), 52 more traditional methods (summary receiver operating characteristic curve based on linear regression or a univariate approach), and 8 combined both. Fifty-nine authors responded to the survey; 29 (49%) authors had used advanced methods, 25 (42%) authors traditional methods, and 5 (9%) authors combined traditional and advanced methods. Most authors who had used advanced methods reported to do so because they believed that these methods are currently recommended (n = 27; 93%). Most authors who had used traditional methods also reported to do so because they believed that these methods are currently recommended (n = 18; 75%) or easy to understand (n = 18; 75%). Although more advanced methods for meta-analysis are recommended by The Cochrane Collaboration, both authors using these methods and those using more traditional methods responded that the methods they used were currently recommended. Clearer and more widespread dissemination of guidelines on recommended methods for meta-analysis of test accuracy data is needed.

• Publisher: Elsevier Inc,Elsevier,Elsevier Limited
• Subject: Accuracy / Analysis. Health state / Biological and medical sciences / Collaboration / Data Collection / Diagnostic accuracy reviews / Diagnostic tests / Diagnostic Tests, Routine - standards / Epidemiology / General aspects / Guidelines as Topic / Humans / Internal Medicine / Medical sciences / Meta-analysis / Meta-Analysis as Topic / Meta-analytical methods / Methods / Public health. Hygiene / Public health. Hygiene-occupational medicine / Regression analysis / Research Design / Review Literature as Topic / Sensitivity analysis / Studies / Systematic reviews / Test accuracy