GRADE Use in Evidence Syntheses Published in High-Impact-Factor Gynecology and Obstetrics Journals: A Methodological Survey

doi:10.3390/jcm12020446

. 2023 Jan 5;12(2):446.

doi: 10.3390/jcm12020446.

GRADE Use in Evidence Syntheses Published in High-Impact-Factor Gynecology and Obstetrics Journals: A Methodological Survey

Hui-Juan Yang^{1

2}, De-Yu Zhang³, Ying-Ying Hao³, He-Li Xu^{1

2}, Yi-Zi Li^{1

2}, Shuang Zhang⁴, Xin-Yu Li^{1

2}, Ting-Ting Gong³, Qi-Jun Wu^{1

2

3

5

6}

Affiliations

¹ Department of Clinical Epidemiology, Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang 110004, China.
² Clinical Research Center, Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang 110004, China.
³ Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang 110004, China.
⁴ Department of Nephrology, Dalian Municipal Central Hospital, Dalian 116027, China.
⁵ Liaoning Key Laboratory of Precision Medical Research on Major Chronic Disease, Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang 110004, China.
⁶ Key Laboratory of Reproductive and Genetic Medicine, China Medical University, National Health Commission, Shenyang 110004, China.

PMID: 36675377
PMCID: PMC9866985
DOI: 10.3390/jcm12020446

GRADE Use in Evidence Syntheses Published in High-Impact-Factor Gynecology and Obstetrics Journals: A Methodological Survey

Hui-Juan Yang et al. J Clin Med. 2023.

. 2023 Jan 5;12(2):446.

doi: 10.3390/jcm12020446.

Authors

Hui-Juan Yang^{1

2}, De-Yu Zhang³, Ying-Ying Hao³, He-Li Xu^{1

2}, Yi-Zi Li^{1

2}, Shuang Zhang⁴, Xin-Yu Li^{1

2}, Ting-Ting Gong³, Qi-Jun Wu^{1

2

3

5

6}

Affiliations

¹ Department of Clinical Epidemiology, Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang 110004, China.
² Clinical Research Center, Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang 110004, China.
³ Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang 110004, China.
⁴ Department of Nephrology, Dalian Municipal Central Hospital, Dalian 116027, China.
⁵ Liaoning Key Laboratory of Precision Medical Research on Major Chronic Disease, Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang 110004, China.
⁶ Key Laboratory of Reproductive and Genetic Medicine, China Medical University, National Health Commission, Shenyang 110004, China.

PMID: 36675377
PMCID: PMC9866985
DOI: 10.3390/jcm12020446

Abstract

Objective: To identify and describe the certainty of evidence of gynecology and obstetrics systematic reviews (SRs) using the Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development and Evaluation (GRADE) approach. Method: Database searches of SRs using GRADE, published between 1 January 2016 to 31 December 2020, in the 10 "gynecology and obstetrics" journals with the highest impact factor, according to the Journal Citation Report 2019. Selected studies included those SRs using the GRADE approach, used to determine the certainty of evidence. Results: Out of 952 SRs, ninety-six SRs of randomized control trials (RCTs) and/or nonrandomized studies (NRSs) used GRADE. Sixty-seven SRs (7.04%) rated the certainty of evidence for specific outcomes. In total, we identified 946 certainty of evidence outcome ratings (n = 614 RCT ratings), ranging from very-low (42.28%) to low (28.44%), moderate (17.65%), and high (11.63%). High and very low certainty of evidence ratings accounted for 2.16% and 71.60% in the SRs of NRSs, respectively, compared with 16.78% and 26.55% in the SRs of RCTs. In the SRs of RCTs and NRSs, certainty of evidence was mainly downgraded due to imprecision and bias risks. Conclusions: More attention needs to be paid to strengthening GRADE acceptance and building knowledge of GRADE methods in gynecology and obstetrics evidence synthesis.

Keywords: GRADE; appraisal tool; certainty of evidence; gynecology and obstetrics; systematic reviews.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

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Yamamoto N, Taito S, Miura T, Ariie T, Tomita Y, Ogihara H, Shiratsuchi D, Yorifuji T, Tsujimoto Y. Yamamoto N, et al. J Clin Med. 2023 Nov 10;12(22):7031. doi: 10.3390/jcm12227031. J Clin Med. 2023. PMID: 38002645 Free PMC article. Review.

References

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[1] Cook D.J., Mulrow C.D., Haynes R.B. Systematic reviews: Synthesis of best evidence for clinical decisions. Ann. Intern. Med. 1997;126:376–380. doi: 10.7326/0003-4819-126-5-199703010-00006. - DOI - PubMed

[2] Cook D.J., Mulrow C.D., Haynes R.B. Systematic reviews: Synthesis of best evidence for clinical decisions. Ann. Intern. Med. 1997;126:376–380. doi: 10.7326/0003-4819-126-5-199703010-00006. - DOI - PubMed

[3] Chmielewska B., Barratt I., Townsend R., Kalafat E., van der Meulen J., Gurol-Urganci I., O’Brien P., Morris E., Draycott T., Thangaratinam S., et al. Effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on maternal and perinatal outcomes: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Lancet Glob. Health. 2021;9:e759–e772. doi: 10.1016/S2214-109X(21)00079-6. - DOI - PMC - PubMed

[4] Chmielewska B., Barratt I., Townsend R., Kalafat E., van der Meulen J., Gurol-Urganci I., O’Brien P., Morris E., Draycott T., Thangaratinam S., et al. Effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on maternal and perinatal outcomes: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Lancet Glob. Health. 2021;9:e759–e772. doi: 10.1016/S2214-109X(21)00079-6. - DOI - PMC - PubMed

[5] Chawanpaiboon S., Vogel J.P., Moller A.B., Lumbiganon P., Petzold M., Hogan D., Landoulsi S., Jampathong N., Kongwattanakul K., Laopaiboon M., et al. Global, regional, and national estimates of levels of preterm birth in 2014: A systematic review and modelling analysis. Lancet Glob. Health. 2019;7:e37–e46. doi: 10.1016/S2214-109X(18)30451-0. - DOI - PMC - PubMed

[6] Chawanpaiboon S., Vogel J.P., Moller A.B., Lumbiganon P., Petzold M., Hogan D., Landoulsi S., Jampathong N., Kongwattanakul K., Laopaiboon M., et al. Global, regional, and national estimates of levels of preterm birth in 2014: A systematic review and modelling analysis. Lancet Glob. Health. 2019;7:e37–e46. doi: 10.1016/S2214-109X(18)30451-0. - DOI - PMC - PubMed

[7] Davies C., Segre G., Estrade A., Radua J., De Micheli A., Provenzani U., Oliver D., Salazar de Pablo G., Ramella-Cravaro V., Besozzi M., et al. Prenatal and perinatal risk and protective factors for psychosis: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Lancet Psychiatry. 2020;7:399–410. doi: 10.1016/S2215-0366(20)30057-2. - DOI - PubMed

[8] Davies C., Segre G., Estrade A., Radua J., De Micheli A., Provenzani U., Oliver D., Salazar de Pablo G., Ramella-Cravaro V., Besozzi M., et al. Prenatal and perinatal risk and protective factors for psychosis: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Lancet Psychiatry. 2020;7:399–410. doi: 10.1016/S2215-0366(20)30057-2. - DOI - PubMed

[9] Derakhshan A., Peeters R.P., Taylor P.N., Bliddal S., Carty D.M., Meems M., Vaidya B., Chen L., Knight B.A., Ghafoor F., et al. Association of maternal thyroid function with birthweight: A systematic review and individual-participant data meta-analysis. Lancet Diabetes Endocrinol. 2020;8:501–510. doi: 10.1016/S2213-8587(20)30061-9. - DOI - PMC - PubMed

[10] Derakhshan A., Peeters R.P., Taylor P.N., Bliddal S., Carty D.M., Meems M., Vaidya B., Chen L., Knight B.A., Ghafoor F., et al. Association of maternal thyroid function with birthweight: A systematic review and individual-participant data meta-analysis. Lancet Diabetes Endocrinol. 2020;8:501–510. doi: 10.1016/S2213-8587(20)30061-9. - DOI - PMC - PubMed

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GRADE Use in Evidence Syntheses Published in High-Impact-Factor Gynecology and Obstetrics Journals: A Methodological Survey

Affiliations

GRADE Use in Evidence Syntheses Published in High-Impact-Factor Gynecology and Obstetrics Journals: A Methodological Survey

Authors

Affiliations

Abstract

Conflict of interest statement

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