Evidence map›Paper›PMID 39825276›Full record

ArticleBMC medical research methodology2025

A case study in statistical software development for advanced evidence synthesis: the combined value of analysts and research software engineers.

Naomi Bradbury, Tom Morris, Clareece Nevill, Janion Nevill, Ryan Field, Suzanne Freeman, Nicola Cooper, Alex Sutton

Abstract read
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Article in BMC medical research methodology, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing 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

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

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

8 authors.

Naomi BradburyBiostatistics Research Group, Department of Population Health Sciences, University of Leicester, Leicester, UK. nvm4@leicester.ac.uk.
Tom MorrisBiostatistics Research Group, Department of Population Health Sciences, University of Leicester, Leicester, UK.
Clareece NevillBiostatistics Research Group, Department of Population Health Sciences, University of Leicester, Leicester, UK.
Janion NevillBiostatistics Research Group, Department of Population Health Sciences, University of Leicester, Leicester, UK.
Ryan FieldComplex Reviews Synthesis Unit (CRSU), Universities of Leicester and Glasgow, Glasgow, UK.
Suzanne FreemanBiostatistics Research Group, Department of Population Health Sciences, University of Leicester, Leicester, UK.
Nicola CooperBiostatistics Research Group, Department of Population Health Sciences, University of Leicester, Leicester, UK.
Alex SuttonBiostatistics Research Group, Department of Population Health Sciences, University of Leicester, Leicester, UK.

Funding

National Institute for Health and Care Research 14/178/29
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundSince 2015, the Complex Reviews Synthesis Unit (CRSU) has developed a suite of web-based applications (apps) that conduct complex evidence synthesis meta-analyses through point-and-click interfaces. This has been achieved in the R programming language by combining existing R packages that conduct meta-analysis with the shiny web-application package. The CRSU apps have evolved from two short-term student projects into a suite of eight apps that are used for more than 3,000 h per month.

aimHere, we present our experience of developing production grade web-apps from the point-of-view of individuals trained primarily as statisticians rather than software developers in the hopes of encouraging and inspiring other groups to develop valuable open-source statistical software whilst also learning from our experiences. KEY CHALLENGES: We discuss how we have addressed challenges to research software development such as responding to feedback from our real-world users to improve the CRSU apps, the implementation of software engineering principles into our app development process and gaining recognition for non-traditional research work within the academic environment. FUTURE DEVELOPMENTS: The CRSU continues to seek funding opportunities both to maintain and further develop our shiny apps. We aim to increase our user base by implementing new features within the apps and building links with other groups developing complementary evidence synthesis tools.

Indexed as

Meta-Analysis as TopicSoftwareHumansInternetAcademic scientific software developmentAppsEvidence synthesisWeb applications

Identifiers

PMID39825276
PMCPMC11740572

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.