Enhancing the quality of systematic reviews and meta-analyses
File(s)
Author(s)
Type
Journal Article
Abstract
Systematic reviews and meta-analyses are often considered the highest level in evidence hierarchies, and therefore are often drawn upon when considering changes in policy. Despite journals implementing measures aiming to enhance the quality of systematic reviews they publish, the authorship raise concerns about the quality of existing and ongoing systematic reviews, particularly relating to transparency and bias minimisation. Building on the current guidelines, standards and tools, we suggest a ‘meta checklist’ which aims to maximise methodologically sound, unbiased and reproducible reviews of the best scientific quality while considering feasibility throughout the process.
Date Issued
2025-11-01
Date Acceptance
2025-09-12
Citation
BJPsych Open, 2025, 11 (6)
ISSN
2056-4724
Publisher
Cambridge University Press
Journal / Book Title
BJPsych Open
Volume
11
Issue
6
Copyright Statement
© The Author(s), 2025. Published by Cambridge University Press on behalf of Royal College of Psychiatrists. This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution licence (https://creativecommo ns.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted re-use, distribution and reproduction, provided the original article is properly cited
License URL
Identifier
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/41186074
PII: S2056472425108764
Subjects
bias
BIAS
CARE
CRITICAL-APPRAISAL
evidence
guideline
GUIDELINES
HETEROGENEITY
Life Sciences & Biomedicine
meta-analysis
methodological rigour
Psychiatry
quality
RISK
Science & Technology
Systematic review
TOOL
Publication Status
Published
Coverage Spatial
England
Article Number
e266
Date Publish Online
2025-11-04