ReviewResearch synthesis methods2021
Creating effective interrupted time series graphs: Review and recommendations.
Review in Research synthesis methods, 2021. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 28 papers, 3 of them syntheses that pooled 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.
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.
Who cites it
28 citing papers in PubMed, 3 syntheses or guidelines pooled it.
- Evaluation of statistical methods used to meta-analyse results from interrupted time series studies: A simulation study.Research synthesis methods · 2023Pooled it
- Effect estimates can be accurately calculated with data digitally extracted from interrupted time series graphs.Research synthesis methods · 2023Pooled it
- Use of interrupted time series methods in the evaluation of health system quality improvement interventions: a methodological systematic review.BMJ global health · 2020Pooled it
- Effect of PDCA cycle on critical value management in primary healthcare institutions: an interrupted time series study.Frontiers in health services · 2026Article
- The impacts of the national volume-based procurement policy on the chronic disease medication market in China's public hospitals: a case study of medications for diabetes.BMC health services research · 2025Article
- Use and impact of government-mandated activity statements for online gambling in Australia.Harm reduction journal · 2025Article
- Article
- Utilisation of nursing home care before and after the 2015 Dutch national reform: an interrupted time series analysis.Age and ageing · 2025Article
- Effects of COVID-19 Infection on Symptom Severity and Disability in Multiple Sclerosis.Neurology · 2025Article
- IMPROVING HPV VACCINE RATES FOR ABORIGINAL YOUNG PEOPLE THROUGH A SOCIAL MEDIA CAMPAIGN: AN INTERRUPTED TIME SERIES.F1000Research · 2025Article
- Iodine supplementation for pregnancy in Portugal: identification of nutritional composition of iodine containing supplements and characterization of pharmacy dispenses from 2008-2022.Frontiers in endocrinology · 2025Article
- Impact analysis of DRG payment reform on hospitalization expenses and length of stay for lung cancer inpatients (2019-2023).Frontiers in health services · 2025Article
- Inhaled corticosteroids for COVID-19: a real-world data analysis on guideline adherence.BJGP open · 2025Article
- Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on initiation of antihypertensive drugs in Sweden: an interrupted time series study.BMJ open · 2024Article
- Reducing strain on primary healthcare systems through innovative models of care: the impact of direct access physiotherapy for musculoskeletal conditions-an interrupted time series analysis.Family medicine and community health · 2024Article
- Abortion Provision and Delays to Care in a Clinic Network in Washington State After Dobbs.JAMA network open · 2024Article
- Using the WHO individual near miss case review (NMCR) cycle to improve quality of emergency obstetric care and maternal outcome in Keren hospital, Eritrea: an interrupted time series analysis.BMC pregnancy and childbirth · 2024Article
- National prevalence of smoking among adolescents at tobacco tax increase and COVID-19 pandemic in South Korea, 2005-2022.Scientific reports · 2024Article
- Excess Deaths During the COVID-19 Pandemic in Southern Iran: Estimating the Absolute Count and Relative Risk Using Ecological Data.Journal of preventive medicine and public health = Yebang Uihakhoe chi · 2024Article
- Association between the extension of smoke-free legislation and incident acute myocardial infarctions in Singapore from 2010 to 2019: an interrupted time-series analysis.BMJ global health · 2023Article
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
9 authors.
Funding
Abstract
introductionInterrupted Time Series (ITS) studies may be used to assess the impact of an interruption, such as an intervention or exposure. The data from such studies are particularly amenable to visual display and, when clearly depicted, can readily show the short- and long-term impact of an interruption. Further, well-constructed graphs allow data to be extracted using digitizing software, which can facilitate their inclusion in systematic reviews and meta-analyses.
aimWe provide recommendations for graphing ITS data, examine the properties of plots presented in ITS studies, and provide examples employing our recommendations. METHODS AND
resultsGraphing recommendations from seminal data visualization resources were adapted for use with ITS studies. The adapted recommendations cover plotting of data points, trend lines, interruptions, additional lines and general graph components. We assessed whether 217 graphs from recently published (2013-2017) ITS studies met our recommendations and found that 130 graphs (60%) had clearly distinct data points, 100 (46%) had trend lines, and 161 (74%) had a clearly defined interruption. Accurate data extraction (requiring distinct points that align with axis tick marks and labels that allow the points to be interpreted) was possible in only 72 (33%) graphs.
conclusionWe found that many ITS graphs did not meet our recommendations and could be improved with simple changes. Our proposed recommendations aim to achieve greater standardization and improvement in the display of ITS data, and facilitate re-use of the data in systematic reviews and meta-analyses.
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Registered trials
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.