ArticleCochrane evidence synthesis and methods2025
A New Process Model of Study Identification Specific to the Identification of Randomised Studies for Systematic Reviews of Medical Interventions.
Article in Cochrane evidence synthesis and methods, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. An erratum has been issued. Not yet cited in PubMed.
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
0 citing papers in PubMed.
No citing paper in PubMed yet.
Corrections and comments
- Erratum issued
Authors and funding
6 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
Background: Recent work has illustrated that the same process of study identification is used in systematic reviews irrespective of the studies or data needs required for synthesis. We question if different review types should have their own specific models of study identification, to ensure the appropriate and timely identification of studies/study reports and to minimise research waste. Objective: In this paper, we aim to:1. illustrate and report a new process model to identify randomised studies for systematic reviews of medical interventions; and2. situate the model in context of current practice using a worked example from a recent systematic review. Method: Our model splits the identification of studies from the identification of study reports by searching in distinct phases. It begins with searches of trials registry resources to identify studies, followed by searches of bibliographic databases to identify study reports or unregistered studies. Supplementary search methods are then used to identify unpublished studies. The model includes the possibility of secondary searches, and we consider the role of update searches. Conclusion: A case study illustrates the application of the method alongside operational guidance.
Identifiers
What OpenQuestion holds
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.