Article type
Year
Abstract
Background: Large efforts have been performed in order to facilitate the last parts of a systematic review (i.e. Revman is used for data analysis and review writing). However, less is known about the author’s needings for the developments of early stages of a systematic review.
Objectives: To evaluate Cochrane authors’ experience with the early stages of a systematic review (from retrieving references to data extraction).
Methods: An electronical survey was sent by e-mail to all the Cochrane authors. Its link was included in an e-mail sent through the authors’ e-mail list. The Author Forum has previously discussed about this survey, which has been edited according to their feedback. A five-point Likert item scale has been used.
Results: These are preliminary results. A total of 42 Cochrane authors have answered the survey during the first month. All of them have been working on systematic reviews in the last 5 years (86% as first author). Less than 40% of them usually use a software for references distribution, independent data extraction and risk of bias assessment. Only 19% use a software for discrepancies resolution, and 50% use a software for independent screening. A total of 71% referred that would be very helpful to have a specific software to perform the above mentioned items. Most authors considered that the more time-consuming stages are: writing the repot, data extraction, independent screening and data analysis.
Conclusions: This is the first time that authors are surveyed about the needing of some help for the early stages of a systematic review. Most found that using a specific software could be useful, especially if it helps with independent screening and data extraction. Data analysis can already be done with Revman. Specific software will probably help to simplify the systematic review development and stimulate to have a higher quality review.
Objectives: To evaluate Cochrane authors’ experience with the early stages of a systematic review (from retrieving references to data extraction).
Methods: An electronical survey was sent by e-mail to all the Cochrane authors. Its link was included in an e-mail sent through the authors’ e-mail list. The Author Forum has previously discussed about this survey, which has been edited according to their feedback. A five-point Likert item scale has been used.
Results: These are preliminary results. A total of 42 Cochrane authors have answered the survey during the first month. All of them have been working on systematic reviews in the last 5 years (86% as first author). Less than 40% of them usually use a software for references distribution, independent data extraction and risk of bias assessment. Only 19% use a software for discrepancies resolution, and 50% use a software for independent screening. A total of 71% referred that would be very helpful to have a specific software to perform the above mentioned items. Most authors considered that the more time-consuming stages are: writing the repot, data extraction, independent screening and data analysis.
Conclusions: This is the first time that authors are surveyed about the needing of some help for the early stages of a systematic review. Most found that using a specific software could be useful, especially if it helps with independent screening and data extraction. Data analysis can already be done with Revman. Specific software will probably help to simplify the systematic review development and stimulate to have a higher quality review.