Evidence map›Paper›PMID 34127453›Full record

ArticleBMJ open quality2021

Completeness of reporting of quality improvement studies in neonatology is inadequate: a systematic literature survey.

Zheng Jing Hu, Gerhard Fusch, Catherine Hu, Jie Yi Wang, Zoe El Helou, Muhammad Taaha Hassan, Lawrence Mbuagbaw, Salhab El Helou, Lehana Thabane

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in BMJ open quality, 2021. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 3 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
3citing papers in PubMed, 1 pooled it
–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

3 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it.

  1. Pooled it
  2. Article
  3. 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

9 authors.

Zheng Jing HuDepartment of Health Research Methods Evidence and Impact, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada.ORCID 0000-0002-2215-3353
Gerhard FuschDivision of Neonatology, Department of Pediatrics, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada.
Catherine Hu *Bachelor of Arts and Science, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada.
Jie Yi Wang *Bachelor of Medical Sciences, Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry, University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario, Canada.
Zoe El Helou *Bachelor of Health Sciences, Faculty of Health Sciences, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada.
Muhammad Taaha Hassan *Bachelor of Health Sciences, Faculty of Health Sciences, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada.
Lawrence MbuagbawDepartment of Health Research Methods Evidence and Impact, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada.ORCID 0000-0001-5855-5461
Salhab El HelouDivision of Neonatology, Department of Pediatrics, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada.
Lehana ThabaneDepartment of Health Research Methods Evidence and Impact, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada thabanl@mcmaster.ca.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

introductionQuality improvement (QI) is a growing field of inquiry in healthcare, but the reporting quality of QI studies in neonatology remains unclear. We conducted a systematic survey of the literature to assess the reporting quality of QI studies and factors associated with reporting quality.

methodsWe searched Medline for publications of QI studies from 2016 to 16 April 2020. Pairs of reviewers independently screened citations and assessed reporting quality using a 31-item modified Standards for Quality Improvement Reporting Excellence, 2nd edition (SQUIRE 2.0) checklist. We reported the number (percentage) of studies that reported each item and their corresponding 95% CIs. We used Poisson regression to explore factors associated with reporting quality, namely, journal endorsement of SQUIRE 2.0, declaration of funding sources, year of publication and number of authors. The results were reported as incidence rate ratio (IRR) and 95% CI.

resultsOf 1921 citations, 336 were eligible; among them, we randomly selected 100 articles to assess reporting quality. The mean (standard deviation) number of SQUIRE 2.0 items adhered to was 22.0 (4.5). Percentage of articles reporting each item varied from 26% to 100%. Journal endorsement of SQUIRE 2.0 (IRR=1.11, 95% CI 1.02 to 1.21, p=0.015), declaration of funding sources and increasing number of authors were significantly associated with better reporting.

conclusionsReporting quality of QI studies in neonatology is inadequate. Endorsing the SQUIRE 2.0 guideline is a step that journals can implement to enhance the completeness of reporting.

Indexed as

NeonatologyQuality ImprovementChecklistDelivery of Health CareHealth Services ResearchHumansevidence-based medicineevidence-based practicehealth services researchquality improvementquality improvement methodologies

Identifiers

PMID34127453
PMCPMC8204179

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY-NC
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

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.