ArticleInternational journal of epidemiology2020
Evidence synthesis for constructing directed acyclic graphs (ESC-DAGs): a novel and systematic method for building directed acyclic graphs.
Article in International journal of epidemiology, 2020. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. An erratum has been issued. Cited by 91 papers, 5 of them syntheses that pooled it.
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Who cites it
91 citing papers in PubMed, 5 syntheses or guidelines pooled it.
- Estimating Causal Effects of Third-Stage Management on Postpartum Haemorrhage in a Midwifery Context: An Evidence Synthesis Approach for Constructing Directed Acyclic Graphs.Paediatric and perinatal epidemiology · 2026Pooled it
- Ethnoracial disparities in breast cancer treatment time and survival: a systematic review with a DAG-based causal model.Epidemiologic reviews · 2025Pooled it
- Directed acyclic graphs in perioperative observational research-A systematic review and critique against best practice recommendations.PloS one · 2023Pooled it
- The association between early-life gut microbiota and childhood respiratory diseases: a systematic review.The Lancet. Microbe · 2022Pooled it
- Mediators of socioeconomic inequalities in preterm birth: a systematic review.BMC public health · 2022Pooled it
- Role of Family Decision-Making and Perceived Social Support in the Mental Health of Mothers of Infants in Rural Western China.Depression and anxiety · 2025Trial
- Association between sedentary time and intrinsic capacity among community-dwelling older adults: evidence from a prospective BLINDSCE cohort.GeroScience · 2026Article
- Cohort and Case-Control Studies: Strengths, Limitations and Methodological Considerations.Journal of periodontal research · 2026Review
- Beyond the patient: how providers perceive and experience non-medical barriers in gastrointestinal cancer care.Supportive care in cancer : official journal of the Multinational Association of Supportive Care in Cancer · 2026Article
- The association between body temperature parameters and blood culture positivity in the inpatient setting: a retrospective cohort study.BMC infectious diseases · 2026Article
- Introduction to secure data sharing in primary care using the federated causal learning models.BMJ health & care informatics · 2026Article
- Anxiety and depression may amplify self-reported physical health problems: evidence from EQ-5D-5L data.Health and quality of life outcomes · 2026Article
- Disparities in the Uptake of COVID-19 Vaccination Between Māori and Non-Māori in Aotearoa New Zealand.Journal of the Royal Society of New Zealand · 2026Article
- Local habitual movement as a mechanism for Schistosoma mansoni transmission resurgence: a causal analysis of cross-sectional survey data.BMJ public health · 2026Article
- Mediation analysis investigating the mechanisms of two school-based smoking prevention interventions in adolescents from Northern Ireland and Bogotá.Frontiers in public health · 2026Article
- Identifying the pathways to increased death literacy: Building a conceptual causal model through a mixed-methods pragmatic ESC-DAGs approach.Palliative care and social practice · 2026Article
- Article
- Constructing Directed Acyclic Graphs (DAGs) to Inform Tobacco Cessation Intervention Research: A Methodological Extension Using Evidence Synthesis.Healthcare (Basel, Switzerland) · 2025Article
- Methods matter: unpacking the survival impact of first responder CPR in OHCA.Resuscitation plus · 2025Article
- A Prospective Cohort Study of Technique and Technology Used to Improve First Time PIVC Insertion Success in Hospitalised Paediatric Patients.Journal of advanced nursing · 2025Observational
31 more citing papers are in PubMed but not listed here.
Corrections and comments
- Erratum issued
Authors and funding
7 authors.
Funding
Abstract
backgroundDirected acyclic graphs (DAGs) are popular tools for identifying appropriate adjustment strategies for epidemiological analysis. However, a lack of direction on how to build them is problematic. As a solution, we propose using a combination of evidence synthesis strategies and causal inference principles to integrate the DAG-building exercise within the review stages of research projects. We demonstrate this idea by introducing a novel protocol: 'Evidence Synthesis for Constructing Directed Acyclic Graphs' (ESC-DAGs)'.
methodsESC-DAGs operates on empirical studies identified by a literature search, ideally a novel systematic review or review of systematic reviews. It involves three key stages: (i) the conclusions of each study are 'mapped' into a DAG; (ii) the causal structures in these DAGs are systematically assessed using several causal inference principles and are corrected accordingly; (iii) the resulting DAGs are then synthesised into one or more 'integrated DAGs'. This demonstration article didactically applies ESC-DAGs to the literature on parental influences on offspring alcohol use during adolescence.
conclusionsESC-DAGs is a practical, systematic and transparent approach for developing DAGs from background knowledge. These DAGs can then direct primary data analysis and DAG-based sensitivity analysis. ESC-DAGs has a modular design to allow researchers who are experienced DAG users to both use and improve upon the approach. It is also accessible to researchers with limited experience of DAGs or evidence synthesis.
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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.