M Alabousi1, A Alabousi1,2, T A McGrath3, K D Cobey4,5,6,7, B Budhram3, R A Frank3, F Nguyen3, J P Salameh5, A Dehmoobad Sharifabadi3, M D F McInnes8. 1. Department of Radiology, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada. 2. St Joseph's Healthcare, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada. 3. Faculty of Medicine, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. 4. Centre for Journalology, Clinical Epidemiology Program, The Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, Ottawa, Ontorio, Canada. 5. School of Epidemiology and Public Health, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. 6. Department of Medicine, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. 7. Department of Psychology, School of Natural Sciences, University of Stirling, Stirling, Scotland, UK. 8. University of Ottawa Department of Radiology, Clinical Epidemiology Program, Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, Room c159 Ottawa Hospital Civic Campus, 1053 Carling Ave., Ottawa, ON, K1Y 4E9, Canada. mmcinnes@toh.on.ca.
Abstract
PURPOSE: To evaluate the epidemiology of systematic reviews (SRs) published in imaging journals. METHODS: A MEDLINE search identified SRs published in imaging journals from 1 January 2000-31 December 2016. Articles retrieved were screened against inclusion criteria. Demographic and methodological characteristics were extracted from studies. Temporal trends were evaluated using linear regression and Pearson's correlation coefficients. RESULTS: 921 SRs were included that reported on 27,435 primary studies, 85,276,484 patients and were cited 26,961 times. The SR publication rate increased 23-fold (r=0.92, p<0.001) while the proportion of SRs to non-SRs increased 13-fold (r = 0.94, p<0.001) from 2000 (0.10%) to 2016 (1.33%). Diagnostic test accuracy (DTA) SRs were most frequent (46.5%) followed by therapeutic SRs (16.6%). Most SRs did not report funding status (54.2%). The median author team size was five; this increased over time (r=0.20, p<0.001). Of the studies, 67.3% included an imaging specialist co-author; this decreased over time (r=-0.57, p=0.017). Most SRs included a meta-analysis (69.6%). Journal impact factor positively correlated with SR publication rates (r=0.54, p<0.001). Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and 'vascular and interventional radiology' were the most frequently studied imaging modality and subspecialty, respectively. The USA, UK, China, Netherlands and Canada were the top five publishing countries. CONCLUSIONS: The SR publication rate is increasing rapidly compared with the rate of growth of non-SRs; however, they still make up just over 1% of all studies. Authors, reviewers and editors should be aware of methodological and reporting standards specific to imaging systematic reviews including those for DTA and individual patient data. KEY POINTS: • Systematic review publication rate has increased 23-fold from 2000-2016. • The proportion of systematic reviews to non-systematic reviews has increased 13-fold. • The USA, UK and China are the most frequent published countries; those from the USA and China are increasing the most rapidly.
PURPOSE: To evaluate the epidemiology of systematic reviews (SRs) published in imaging journals. METHODS: A MEDLINE search identified SRs published in imaging journals from 1 January 2000-31 December 2016. Articles retrieved were screened against inclusion criteria. Demographic and methodological characteristics were extracted from studies. Temporal trends were evaluated using linear regression and Pearson's correlation coefficients. RESULTS: 921 SRs were included that reported on 27,435 primary studies, 85,276,484 patients and were cited 26,961 times. The SR publication rate increased 23-fold (r=0.92, p<0.001) while the proportion of SRs to non-SRs increased 13-fold (r = 0.94, p<0.001) from 2000 (0.10%) to 2016 (1.33%). Diagnostic test accuracy (DTA) SRs were most frequent (46.5%) followed by therapeutic SRs (16.6%). Most SRs did not report funding status (54.2%). The median author team size was five; this increased over time (r=0.20, p<0.001). Of the studies, 67.3% included an imaging specialist co-author; this decreased over time (r=-0.57, p=0.017). Most SRs included a meta-analysis (69.6%). Journal impact factor positively correlated with SR publication rates (r=0.54, p<0.001). Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and 'vascular and interventional radiology' were the most frequently studied imaging modality and subspecialty, respectively. The USA, UK, China, Netherlands and Canada were the top five publishing countries. CONCLUSIONS: The SR publication rate is increasing rapidly compared with the rate of growth of non-SRs; however, they still make up just over 1% of all studies. Authors, reviewers and editors should be aware of methodological and reporting standards specific to imaging systematic reviews including those for DTA and individual patient data. KEY POINTS: • Systematic review publication rate has increased 23-fold from 2000-2016. • The proportion of systematic reviews to non-systematic reviews has increased 13-fold. • The USA, UK and China are the most frequent published countries; those from the USA and China are increasing the most rapidly.
Entities:
Keywords:
Diagnostic imaging/trends; Epidemiology/methods and epidemiology/trends; Meta-analysis; Publications/trends; Research design/trends
Authors: Katie O'Hearn; Cameron MacDonald; Anne Tsampalieros; Leo Kadota; Ryan Sandarage; Supun Kotteduwa Jayawarden; Michele Datko; John M Reynolds; Thanh Bui; Shagufta Sultan; Margaret Sampson; Misty Pratt; Nick Barrowman; Nassr Nama; Matthew Page; James Dayre McNally Journal: BMC Med Res Methodol Date: 2021-07-08 Impact factor: 4.615