Evidence map›Paper›PMID 26957125›Full record

ArticleReproductive health2016

Graphical displays for effective reporting of evidence quality tables in research syntheses.

Luciano Mignini, Rita Champaneria, Ekaterina Mishanina, Khalid S Khan, EBM-CONNECT Collaboration

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Reproductive health, 2016. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

5 authors.

Luciano MigniniCentro Rosarino de Estudios Perinatales, Rosario, Santa Fe, Argentina. lmignini@gmail.com.
Rita ChampaneriaBirmingham Clinical Trials Unit, School of Cancer Sciences, College of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK.
Ekaterina MishaninaColchester University Hospital, Colchester, UK.
Khalid S KhanCentre for Health Sciences, Barts and The London School of Medicine and Dentistry, Queen Mary University of London, London, UK. k.s.khan@qmul.ac.uk.
EBM-CONNECT Collaboration

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundWhen generating guidelines, quality of the evidence is tabulated to capture its several domains, often using the GRADE (Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation) approach. We developed a graphic display to capture deficiencies, outliers and similarities across comparisons contained in GRADE tables.

methodsBased on a systematic literature review capturing the effects of 32 different therapeutic comparisons on dysmenorrhoea, we synthesised evidence quality in tables and graphs. We evaluated time taken to accurately assess evident quality and preference for tables vs. graphs.

resultsThe plots provided visually striking displays of strengths and weaknesses of the evidence across the spectrum of comparisons on a single page. Equivalent tabulated information spread over 4 pages. Participants preferred and interpreted graphs quicker and more accurately than tables.

conclusionsThe graphic approach we developed makes interpreting evidence easier. Large tables are dry and cumbersome to read and assimilate. When guideline statements are accompanied by these plots, they have the scope for improving the credibility of the recommendations made, as the strength of the evidence used can be clearly seen. Further empirical research will establish the place for graphic displays.

Indexed as

Computer GraphicsData AccuracyReview Literature as TopicEvidence-Based MedicineHumansPractice Guidelines as Topic

Identifiers

PMID26957125
PMCPMC4784278

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.