Following diagnostic test accuracy protocol to publications: a retrospective cohort study

Session: 

Oral session: Diagnostic test accuracy review methods (1)

Date: 

Tuesday 18 September 2018 - 11:50 to 12:00

Location: 

Carrick 2

All authors in correct order:

Li Y1, Ge L2, Pan J1, Wei L1, Shang W1, Xun Y1, Tian J3, Yang K4
1 1Evidence-Based Medicine Center, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730000, China 2 Key Laboratory of Evidence-Based Medicine and Knowledge Translation of Gansu Province, Lanzhou 730000, China 3 School of Public Health, Lanzhou, China
2 1Evidence-Based Medicine Center, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730000, China 2 Key Laboratory of Evidence-Based Medicine and Knowledge Translation of Gansu Province, Lanzhou 730000, China5 The First Clinical Medical College, China
3 1Evidence-Based Medicine Center, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730000, China 2 Key Laboratory of Evidence-Based Medicine and Knowledge Translation of Gansu Province, Lanzhou 730000, China
4 Evidence-Based Medicine Center, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Lanzhou University；Key Laboratory of Evidence-Based Medicine and Knowledge Translation of Gansu Province；School of Public Health, Lanzhou University；Center for Evidence-based Social Science, China
Presenting author and contact person

Presenting author:

Kehu Yang

Contact person:

Kehu Yang
Abstract text
Background:
Systematic reviews of diagnostic test accuracy (DTA) form a fundamental part of evidence-based practice. However, factors predicting the publication of DTA meta-analyses have never been reported. This is important because if a higher proportion of DTA with certain characteristic (e.g. country of corresponding authors) are being published, this may lead to inaccurate decisions.

Objectives:
To examine the protocol factors that predict the publication of DTA meta-analyses.

Methods:
We searched Cochrane Library and PROSPERO register from inception to December 2017, to include DTA meta-analyses/systematic reviews, that should have a protocol published in advance or registered on PROSPERO. We extracted: name of first author, registration time, publication time of full text, accepted time of full text, time-to-publication, time-to-accepted, journal, number of included primary trials, number and name of institutes, funding, and conflicts of interest, etc. We will analyse time-to-publication and time-to-accepted using the Kaplan-Meier method. We will then use Cox proportional hazards models to predict the time-to-publication of DTA meta-analyses. We will calculate the hazard ratios and 95% confidence intervals. We will explore the association between selected variables and time-to-publication using univariate and multivariate regression analyses. We will conduct statistical analyses with SPSS 22.0.

Results:
This study is ongoing and available results will be presented at the Colloquium.

Conclusions:
This study is ongoing and available results will be presented at the Colloquium.

Relevance to patients and consumers: 

Systematic reviews of diagnostic test accuracy (DTA) form a fundamental part of evidence-based practice. However, factors predicting the publication of DTA meta-analyses have never been reported. This is important because if a higher proportion of DTA with certain characteristic (e.g, country of corresponding authors) are being published, this may lead to inaccurate decisions.