article Open AccessTop 1% cited
Recommendations for examining and interpreting funnel plot asymmetry in meta-analyses of randomised controlled trials
BMJ · 2011 · Vol. 343(jul22 1) · pp. d4002–d4002
Jonathan A C Sterne✉(University of Bristol)Alex J. Sutton(University of Leicester)John P. A. Ioannidis(Stanford University)Norma Terrin(Tufts University)David R. JonesJ. Lau(Tufts University)James R. Carpenter(London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine)Gerta Rücker(University of Freiburg)Roger Harbord(University of Bristol)Christopher H. Schmid(Tufts University)Jennifer Tetzlaff(Ottawa Hospital)Jonathan J Deeks(University of Birmingham)Judith Peters(University of Exeter)Petra Macaskill(University of Sydney)Guido Schwarzer(University of Freiburg)Sue Duval(University Medical Center Freiburg)Douglas G. Altman(University of Oxford)David Moher(Ottawa Hospital Research Institute)Julian P. T. Higgins(MRC Biostatistics Unit)
Abstract
Funnel plots, and tests for funnel plot asymmetry, have been widely used to examine bias in the results of meta-analyses. Funnel plot asymmetry should not be equated with publication bias, because it has a number of other possible causes. This article describes how to interpret funnel plot asymmetry, recommends appropriate tests, and explains the implications for choice of meta-analysis model
Meta-analysis and systematic reviewsHealth Systems, Economic Evaluations, Quality of LifeMusculoskeletal pain and rehabilitationFunnel plotFunnelAsymmetryPublication biasMeta-analysisPlot (graphics)Forest plotEconometricsStatisticsMathematics
MeSH terms
Statistics as TopicMeta-Analysis as TopicSelection BiasRandomized Controlled Trials as Topic
Funding
- Cancer Research UK
- Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft
- Canadian Institutes of Health Research
- Medical Research Council
Citations
7,148
FWCI
131.07
field-weighted impact
References
46
Percentile
100%
vs. same field & year
Citations per year
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Statistics in Medicine · 2004 · 1,233 citations
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