Meta-Analysis and Evidence Assessment

Uses

Evidence quality

Highlighted claims

• A random-effects meta-analysis is planned when at least three studies report comparable effect measures for the same determinant-outcome pair. — Determinants of delayed care-seeking during acute exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: protocol for a systematic review and meta-analysis
• Heterogeneity will be assessed with the chi-square test and quantified using I² and τ². — Determinants of delayed care-seeking during acute exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: protocol for a systematic review and meta-analysis
• Certainty of evidence will be assessed using GRADE adapted for prognostic and observational associations. — Determinants of delayed care-seeking during acute exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: protocol for a systematic review and meta-analysis
• Risk of bias will be assessed independently by two reviewers using design-specific Joanna Briggs Institute tools. — Determinants of delayed care-seeking during acute exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: protocol for a systematic review and meta-analysis
• Dichotomous delayed versus non-delayed care-seeking outcomes will preferably be pooled with odds ratios. — Determinants of delayed care-seeking during acute exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: protocol for a systematic review and meta-analysis
• Publication bias and small-study effects will be assessed with funnel plots and Egger’s regression test when a determinant has generally at least 10 studies in a meta-analysis. — Determinants of delayed care-seeking during acute exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: protocol for a systematic review and meta-analysis