Identifying and addressing conflicting results across multiple discordant systematic reviews on the same question: protocol for a replication study of the Jadad algorithm

Carole Lunny, Sai Surabi Thirugnanasampanthar, Salmaan Kanji, Nicola Ferri, Pierre Thabet, Dawid Pieper, Sara Tasnim, Harrison Nelson, Emma Reid, Jia He Janet Zhang, Banveer Kalkat, Yuan Chi, Jacqueline Thompson, Reema Abdoulrezzak, Di Wen Wendy Zheng, Lindy Pangka, Dian Xin Ran Wang, Parisa Safavi, Anmol Sooch, Kevin KangSera Whitelaw, Andrea C Tricco

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Abstract

INTRODUCTION: An increasing growth of systematic reviews (SRs) presents notable challenges for decision-makers seeking to answer clinical questions. In 1997, an algorithm was created by Jadad to assess discordance in results across SRs on the same question. Our study aims to (1) replicate assessments done in a sample of studies using the Jadad algorithm to determine if the same SR would have been chosen, (2) evaluate the Jadad algorithm in terms of utility, efficiency and comprehensiveness, and (3) describe how authors address discordance in results across multiple SRs.

METHODS AND ANALYSIS: We will use a database of 1218 overviews (2000-2020) created from a bibliometric study as the basis of our search for studies assessing discordance (called discordant reviews). This bibliometric study searched MEDLINE (Ovid), Epistemonikos and Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews for overviews. We will include any study using Jadad (1997) or another method to assess discordance. The first 30 studies screened at the full-text stage by two independent reviewers will be included. We will replicate the authors' Jadad assessments. We will compare our outcomes qualitatively and evaluate the differences between our Jadad assessment of discordance and the authors' assessment.

ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION: No ethics approval was required as no human subjects were involved. In addition to publishing in an open-access journal, we will disseminate evidence summaries through formal and informal conferences, academic websites, and across social media platforms. This is the first study to comprehensively evaluate and replicate Jadad algorithm assessments of discordance across multiple SRs.

Original languageEnglish
Article numbere054223
Number of pages13
JournalBMJ open
Volume12
Issue number4
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 20 Apr 2022

Bibliographical note

© Author(s) (or their employer(s)) 2022. Re-use permitted under CC BY-NC. No commercial re-use. See rights and permissions. Published by BMJ.

Keywords

  • Algorithms
  • Bibliometrics
  • Humans
  • Publishing
  • Research Design
  • Systematic Reviews as Topic

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