Assessing the certainty of the evidence in network meta-analysis: GRADE approach

Tags: Workshop
Yepes-Nuñez JJ1, Brignardello-Petersen R2, Schunemann H1, Guyatt G3
1McMaster University, 2Department of Clinical Epidemiology and Biostatistics, McMaster University, 3McMaster University, Canada

Objectives: For individuals considering conducting a network meta-analysis to gain familiarity with and begin to gain skills in applying the GRADE (Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development and Evaluations) approach to rating certainty of evidence in paired comparisons within a network meta-analysis.

Description: The GRADE Working Group has developed an approach to rating certainty of evidence (also known as confidence in evidence or quality of evidence) in each paired comparison within a network meta-analysis. The approach involves four steps:

1. present direct and indirect treatment estimates for each paired comparison;

2. rate the certainty of each direct and indirect estimate;

3. present the NMA estimate for each comparison;

4. rate the certainty of each NMA estimate.

The workshop will begin with an interactive lecture providing details of the approach reviewing a step-by-step template for applying the approach. Workshop participants will break into groups of five or six to work through an example of a network meta-analysis addressing 12 antidepressants for major depression.