Article type
Abstract
Background:Cochrane Systematic Review (SR) is one high-quality evidence sources, which was widely used for clinic practice guidelines developing and health policies making by many countries. However, there are various ethnic groups in the world and they have different tolerance levels to the same intervention. So it’s important to analyse the geographical distribution of included studies from Cochrane SRs.
Objectives:To analyse the geographical distribution of included studies from Cochrane SRs.
Methods: 300 Cochrane SRs with full text were randomly selected by computer in CDSR, and the implementation countries or regions of the included studies from Cochrane SRs were analysed.
Results:There were 2456 original studies included by the 300 Cochrane SRs. Among the 2456 studies, 1033 (42%) were conducted in Europe, 779 (32%) were conducted in North America, 442 (18%) were conducted in Asia, 107 (4%) were conducted in Oceania, 60 (3%) were conducted in Africa and 35 (1%) were conducted in South America.
Conclusions: 75% included studies were conducted in Europe and North America. Few original studies come from Asia, South America, Africa and Oceania. The unbalanced geographical distribution of original studies might cause indirectness when the Cochrane SRs are disseminated in the whole world.
Objectives:To analyse the geographical distribution of included studies from Cochrane SRs.
Methods: 300 Cochrane SRs with full text were randomly selected by computer in CDSR, and the implementation countries or regions of the included studies from Cochrane SRs were analysed.
Results:There were 2456 original studies included by the 300 Cochrane SRs. Among the 2456 studies, 1033 (42%) were conducted in Europe, 779 (32%) were conducted in North America, 442 (18%) were conducted in Asia, 107 (4%) were conducted in Oceania, 60 (3%) were conducted in Africa and 35 (1%) were conducted in South America.
Conclusions: 75% included studies were conducted in Europe and North America. Few original studies come from Asia, South America, Africa and Oceania. The unbalanced geographical distribution of original studies might cause indirectness when the Cochrane SRs are disseminated in the whole world.