February 2024 Editors ’ Choice
In the February issue of the Journal of Clinical Epidemiology, four papers highlight the importance of the role of the librarian (or information specialists) within evidence synthesis. The first focuses on challenges searching the literature to identify methodological research [1]; Searching a methods topic: practical challenges and implications for search design, Journal of Clinical Epidemiology, February 2024, 11,201), whereas the second describes the process of searching the literature in living reviews [2]; Optimizing process and methods for a living systematic review —30 search updates and 3 review updates later, Jo...
Source: Journal of Clinical Epidemiology - February 1, 2024 Category: Epidemiology Authors: Andrea C. Tricco, Jessie McGowan, David Tovey Tags: Editors' Choice Source Type: research
Estimates of sensitivity and specificity of serological tests for SARS-CoV-2 specific antibodies using a Bayesian latent class model approach
In this study, we aimed to assess how accurately serological tests can detect antibodies (IgM and IgG) specific for SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19. As there is no perfect standard for comparison, we applied a statistical analysis called Bayesian latent class models. This analysis allowed us to estimate the sensitivity (true positive rate) and specificity (true negative rate) of the tests for IgM and IgG. We performed three additional analyses to compare the results obtained through different methods, including an analysis that considers a previous molecular diagnosis the gold standard. To do so, we considered s...
Source: Journal of Clinical Epidemiology - January 31, 2024 Category: Epidemiology Authors: Joana P. Costa, Paula Meireles, Eleftherios Meletis, Polychronis Kostoulas, Milton Severo Tags: Original Article Source Type: research
Using the GRADE Evidence to Decision Framework to reach recommendations together with ethnic minority community organisations: the example of COVID-19 vaccine uptake in the UK
To make recommendations regarding factors that affect COVID-19 vaccine uptake by ethnic minority individuals in the UK, together with strategies that could be used to increase uptake. (Source: Journal of Clinical Epidemiology)
Source: Journal of Clinical Epidemiology - January 31, 2024 Category: Epidemiology Authors: Shaun Treweek, Miriam Brazzelli, Annette Crosse, Sunil Daga, Talia Isaacs, Ria Sunga, on behalf of the Collaboration for Change Tags: Methodological Considerations Related to Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion in Clinical Epidemiology Source Type: research
The reporting completeness and transparency of systematic reviews of prognostic prediction models for COVID-19 was poor: a methodological overview of systematic reviews.
To conduct a methodological overview of reviews in order to evaluate the reporting completeness and transparency of systematic reviews (SRs) of prognostic prediction models (PPMs) for COVID-19. (Source: Journal of Clinical Epidemiology)
Source: Journal of Clinical Epidemiology - January 22, 2024 Category: Epidemiology Authors: Persefoni Talimtzi, Antonios Ntolkeras, Georgios Kostopoulos, Konstantinos I. Bougioukas, Eirini Pagkalidou, Andreas Ouranidis, Athanasia Pataka, Anna-Bettina Haidich Tags: Covid-19 Series Source Type: research
Response to “Homeopathy: A null field or effective psychotherapy?”
(Source: Journal of Clinical Epidemiology)
Source: Journal of Clinical Epidemiology - January 22, 2024 Category: Epidemiology Authors: Matthew K. Sigurdson, Kristin L. Sainani, John P.A. Ioannidis Tags: Letter to the Editor Source Type: research
Prevalence of and factors associated with potentially redundant randomized controlled trials: a cross-sectional study
To investigate the prevalence of meta-analyses containing potentially redundant randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and the factors associated with the presence of redundancy. (Source: Journal of Clinical Epidemiology)
Source: Journal of Clinical Epidemiology - January 22, 2024 Category: Epidemiology Authors: Qingping Yun, Minqing Lin, Yuanxi Jia, Yuxin Wang, Jiayue Zhang, Feng Sha, Zuyao Yang, Jinling Tang Tags: Original Article Source Type: research
The total effect of ethnicity on COVID-19 outcomes is underestimated when conditioning for comorbidities: Response to Learoyd et al
(Source: Journal of Clinical Epidemiology)
Source: Journal of Clinical Epidemiology - January 16, 2024 Category: Epidemiology Authors: Fredi Alexander Diaz-Quijano, Lu ís Ricardo Santos de Melo Tags: Letter to the Editor Source Type: research
The complexity of the relationship between ethnicity and COVID-19 outcomes: author's reply
We thank Dr Diaz-Quijano and Mr Melo for their knowledgeable input into the topic of how bias and adjustment can influence causal relationships. We agree there are inherent biases, some unobserved, in hospital-based research and that even our illustrative example [1] is unlikely to account for every factor. This is partly due to, as raised by our colleagues, the complexity of the relationship between ethnicity as exposure of interest, COVID-19 severity as the outcome, and other influencing factors (colliders, mediators, and confounders). (Source: Journal of Clinical Epidemiology)
Source: Journal of Clinical Epidemiology - January 15, 2024 Category: Epidemiology Authors: Annastazia E. Learoyd, Jennifer Nicholas, Abdel Douiri Tags: Commentary Source Type: research
The complexity of the relationship between ethnicity and Covid-19 outcomes: author ’s reply
(Source: Journal of Clinical Epidemiology)
Source: Journal of Clinical Epidemiology - January 15, 2024 Category: Epidemiology Authors: Annastazia E. Learoyd, Jennifer Nicholas, Abdel Douiri Tags: Commentary Source Type: research
Accessibility of clinical study reports supporting medicine approvals: a cross-sectional evaluation
Clinical study reports (CSRs) are highly detailed documents that play a pivotal role in medicine approval processes. Though not historically publicly available, in recent years, major entities including the European Medicines Agency (EMA), Health Canada, and the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) have highlighted the importance of CSR accessibility. The primary objective herein was to determine the proportion of CSRs that support medicine approvals available for public download as well as the proportion eligible for independent researcher request via the study sponsor. (Source: Journal of Clinical Epidemiology)
Source: Journal of Clinical Epidemiology - January 12, 2024 Category: Epidemiology Authors: Ashley M. Hopkins, Natansh D. Modi, Frank W. Rockhold, Tammy Hoffmann, Bradley D. Menz, Areti-Angeliki Veroniki, Ross A. McKinnon, Andrew Rowland, Sandra M. Swain, Joseph S. Ross, Michael J. Sorich Tags: Original Research Source Type: research
Cross-institution natural language processing for reliable clinical association studies: a methodological exploration
The objective of this study is to investigate how NLP models could be used to extract study variables (specifically: exposures) to reliably conduct exposure-outcome association studies. (Source: Journal of Clinical Epidemiology)
Source: Journal of Clinical Epidemiology - January 12, 2024 Category: Epidemiology Authors: Madhumita Sushil, Atul J. Butte, Ewoud Schuit, Maarten van Smeden, Artuur M. Leeuwenberg Tags: Original Article Source Type: research
Accessibility of clinical study reports supporting medicine approvals: a cross-sectional evaluation
Clinical study reports (CSRs) are highly detailed documents that play a pivotal role in medicine approval processes. Though not historically publicly available, in recent years major entities including the European Medicines Agency (EMA), Health Canada, and the U.S Food& Drug Administration (FDA) have highlighted the importance of CSR accessibility. The primary objective herein was to determine the proportion of CSRs that support medicine approvals available for public download as well as the proportion eligible for independent researcher request via the study sponsor. (Source: Journal of Clinical Epidemiology)
Source: Journal of Clinical Epidemiology - January 12, 2024 Category: Epidemiology Authors: Ashley M. Hopkins, Natansh D. Modi, Frank W. Rockhold, Tammy Hoffmann, Bradley D. Menz, Areti-Angeliki Veroniki, Ross A. McKinnon, Andrew Rowland, Sandra M. Swain, Joseph S. Ross, Michael J. Sorich Tags: Original Article Source Type: research
Uncovering Gaps in GRADE Reporting of Eastern Association for Surgeons of Trauma (EAST) Guidelines
To formally evaluate the uptake and reporting of the Grading of Recommendation Assessments, Development and Evaluation (GRADE) approach in clinical practice guidelines (CPGs) developed by the Eastern Association for the Surgery of Trauma (EAST). (Source: Journal of Clinical Epidemiology)
Source: Journal of Clinical Epidemiology - January 11, 2024 Category: Epidemiology Authors: Brett Norling, William Miller, Philipp Dahm Tags: Other GRADE Papers Source Type: research
A systematic survey of adaptive trials shows substantial improvement in methods is needed
To investigate the design, conduct, and analysis of adaptive trials through a systematic survey and provide recommendations for future adaptive trials. (Source: Journal of Clinical Epidemiology)
Source: Journal of Clinical Epidemiology - January 10, 2024 Category: Epidemiology Authors: Yuning Wang, Minghong Yao, Jiali Liu, Yanmei Liu, Yu Ma, Xiaochao Luo, Fan Mei, Hunong Xiang, Kang Zou, Xin Sun, Ling Li Tags: Original Article Source Type: research
Most UK cardiovascular disease trial protocols feature criteria that exclude ethnic minority participants: systematic review
ObjectivesWe systematically reviewed UK cardiovascular disease (CVD) randomised controlled trial (RCT) protocols to identify the proportion featuring eligibility criteria that may disproportionately exclude ethnic minority (EM) participants.MethodsWe searched MEDLINE, Embase and Cochrane Library databases, January 2014-June 2022, to identify UK CVD RCT protocols. We extracted non-clinical eligibility criteria from trial protocols and inductively categorised the trials by their language, consent and broad (ambiguous) criteria. (Source: Journal of Clinical Epidemiology)
Source: Journal of Clinical Epidemiology - January 10, 2024 Category: Epidemiology Authors: Jhulia dos Santos, Shoba Dawson, Carmel Conefrey, Talia Isaacs, Mahwar Khanum, Saba Faisal, Sangeetha Paramasivan Tags: EDI series Source Type: research
