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.

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

Methods: We searched Cochrane Library and PROSPERO register from inception to October 2016, to include DTA meta-analyses/systematic reviews, that should have a protocol published in advance or should register 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. Time-to-publication and time-to-accepted will be conducted using the Kaplan-Meier method. Cox proportional hazards models will be then used to predict the time to publication of DTA meta-analyses. The hazard ratios and 95% confidence intervals will be calculated. The association between selected variables and time-to-publication will be explored using univariate and multivariate regression analyses. Statistical analyses will be conducted with SPSS 21.0.

Results and conclusions: This study is ongoing and results will be presented at the Summit as available.