Article type
Abstract
"Background
Dissemination bias (sometimes also referred to as publication bias) describes a systematic error occurring from the non-dissemination of studies and individual findings. Given its importance in quantitative research, dissemination bias has been suggested as a possible component to consider when assessing confidence in findings from qualitative evidence syntheses using the GRADE-CERQual approach. However, very little is known about dissemination bias within qualitative research. The main objectives of this study are therefore to quantify the extent of non-dissemination of qualitative studies and identify the factors associated with non-dissemination.
Methods
This is a retrospective cohort study. We searched for studies in Web of Science Conference Proceedings Citation Index, the largest database of conference abstracts, on 21st September 2022 and screened these for eligibility in duplicate. We included all conference abstracts that described original qualitative studies in health and healthcare presented between 2016 and 2018. A single reviewer extracted relevant author and study characteristics. We retrieved full publications of conferences abstracts via direct author contact or tailored, systematic literature searches in electronic databases. To explore potential associations of study and author characteristics with subsequent non-dissemination, we will use Fisher's exact test or logistic regression analyses. We will calculate median time to publication and evaluate associations with time to publication with Cox regression analyses.
Results
We retrieved 7502 abstracts. After excluding 6384 abstracts, we extracted data for 1118 abstracts. (Table 1 in supplementary file presents descriptive findings). The survey and the search for subsequent full publications are currently ongoing. Final analytical findings about proportions of non-dissemination, time to full publication and characteristics associated with subsequent full publication will be presented at the Global Evidence Summit.
Discussion
Our findings will provide insight into the extent of non-dissemination in qualitative research and the potential impacts of this for assessing confidence in findings from qualitative evidence synthesis.
Keywords: Qualitative evidence synthesis, dissemination bias, non-dissemination, qualitative health research, GRADE-CERQual
"
Dissemination bias (sometimes also referred to as publication bias) describes a systematic error occurring from the non-dissemination of studies and individual findings. Given its importance in quantitative research, dissemination bias has been suggested as a possible component to consider when assessing confidence in findings from qualitative evidence syntheses using the GRADE-CERQual approach. However, very little is known about dissemination bias within qualitative research. The main objectives of this study are therefore to quantify the extent of non-dissemination of qualitative studies and identify the factors associated with non-dissemination.
Methods
This is a retrospective cohort study. We searched for studies in Web of Science Conference Proceedings Citation Index, the largest database of conference abstracts, on 21st September 2022 and screened these for eligibility in duplicate. We included all conference abstracts that described original qualitative studies in health and healthcare presented between 2016 and 2018. A single reviewer extracted relevant author and study characteristics. We retrieved full publications of conferences abstracts via direct author contact or tailored, systematic literature searches in electronic databases. To explore potential associations of study and author characteristics with subsequent non-dissemination, we will use Fisher's exact test or logistic regression analyses. We will calculate median time to publication and evaluate associations with time to publication with Cox regression analyses.
Results
We retrieved 7502 abstracts. After excluding 6384 abstracts, we extracted data for 1118 abstracts. (Table 1 in supplementary file presents descriptive findings). The survey and the search for subsequent full publications are currently ongoing. Final analytical findings about proportions of non-dissemination, time to full publication and characteristics associated with subsequent full publication will be presented at the Global Evidence Summit.
Discussion
Our findings will provide insight into the extent of non-dissemination in qualitative research and the potential impacts of this for assessing confidence in findings from qualitative evidence synthesis.
Keywords: Qualitative evidence synthesis, dissemination bias, non-dissemination, qualitative health research, GRADE-CERQual
"