Abstract
Aims: The primary aim of our study was to evaluate the effects of undisclosed financial conflicts of interest in Achilles tendon rupture repair focused systematic reviews.
Methods and Results: Following a cross-sectional study design, we searched MEDLINE and Embase for Achilles tendon rupture repair systematic reviews. We performed screening and data extraction in a blind, triplicate fashion. Each systematic review was evaluated on the individual characteristics of the study, presence of undisclosed and disclosed conflicts of interest, favorability of results and conclusions, and the relationship between conflicts of interest and the favorability of results and conclusions. Our search produced 172 total systematic reviews pertaining to Achilles tendon rupture repair, of those, only 12 were included in our study. Undisclosed conflicts of interest were found in half (6/12, 50%) of the included reviews. No significant tie was found between conflict of interest and the favorability of results and conclusions, however.
Conclusion: Undisclosed conflicts of interests were discovered in a large percentage of our sample. This lack of disclosure did not appear to show a tie to favorability of the study, but all conflicts should be disclosed. Further research is needed to evaluate if there is a tie present.
Keywords: Achilles tendon rupture; Achilles tendon rupture repair; Orthopedics; Systematic Review; Meta-Analysis
Methods and Results: Following a cross-sectional study design, we searched MEDLINE and Embase for Achilles tendon rupture repair systematic reviews. We performed screening and data extraction in a blind, triplicate fashion. Each systematic review was evaluated on the individual characteristics of the study, presence of undisclosed and disclosed conflicts of interest, favorability of results and conclusions, and the relationship between conflicts of interest and the favorability of results and conclusions. Our search produced 172 total systematic reviews pertaining to Achilles tendon rupture repair, of those, only 12 were included in our study. Undisclosed conflicts of interest were found in half (6/12, 50%) of the included reviews. No significant tie was found between conflict of interest and the favorability of results and conclusions, however.
Conclusion: Undisclosed conflicts of interests were discovered in a large percentage of our sample. This lack of disclosure did not appear to show a tie to favorability of the study, but all conflicts should be disclosed. Further research is needed to evaluate if there is a tie present.
Keywords: Achilles tendon rupture; Achilles tendon rupture repair; Orthopedics; Systematic Review; Meta-Analysis
| Original language | American English |
|---|---|
| Pages | 30 |
| State | Published - 22 Feb 2021 |
| Event | Oklahoma State University Center for Health Sciences Research Days 2021: Poster presentation - Oklahoma State University Center for Health Sciences Campus, Tulsa, United States Duration: 22 Feb 2021 → 26 Feb 2021 |
Conference
| Conference | Oklahoma State University Center for Health Sciences Research Days 2021 |
|---|---|
| Country/Territory | United States |
| City | Tulsa |
| Period | 22/02/21 → 26/02/21 |
Keywords
- Achilles tendon rupture
- Achilles tendon rupture repair
- Orthopedics
- Systematic Review
- Meta-Analysis