Contour-enhanced funnel plots for meta-analysis
Contour-enhanced funnel plots for meta-analysis
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DOI：
10.1177/1536867x0800800206
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发表时间：
2008-01-01
期刊：
影响因子：
4.8
通讯作者：
Moreno, Santiago G.
中科院分区：
文献类型：
--
作者：
Palmer, Tom M.;Peters, Jaime L.;Moreno, Santiago G.
漏斗图通常用于研究荟萃分析中的发表和相关偏倚。尽管漏斗图外观的不对称性通常被解释为由发表偏倚引起，但实际上，这种不对称性可能是由于其他因素造成的，这些因素导致大型和小型研究结果的系统性差异，例如，混杂因素，如研究质量差异。漏斗图可以通过添加具有统计学意义的等高线来增强，以帮助解释漏斗图。如果研究在统计学意义较低的领域出现缺失，那么这种不对称可能是由于发表偏倚造成的。如果研究在统计学显著性高的领域缺失，那么发表偏倚是漏斗不对称的可能性较小的原因。建议在荟萃分析中常规使用漏斗图的这种增强，其中可能会根据其统计学意义抑制结果。
Funnel plots are commonly used to investigate publication and related biases in meta-analysis. Although asymmetry in the appearance of a funnel plot is often interpreted as being caused by publication bias, in reality the asymmetry could be due to other factors that cause systematic differences in the results of large and small studies, for example, confounding factors such as differential study quality. Funnel plots can be enhanced by adding contours of statistical significance to aid in interpreting the funnel plot. If studies appear to be missing in areas of low statistical significance, then it is possible that the asymmetry is due to publication bias. If studies appear to be missing in areas of high statistical significance, then publication bias is a less likely cause of the funnel asymmetry. It is proposed that this enhancement to funnel plots should be used routinely for meta-analyses where it is possible that results could be suppressed on the basis of their statistical significance.