Shimonovich, M. , Pearce, A. , Thomson, H. and Katikireddi, S. V. (2022) Causal assessment in evidence synthesis: a methodological review of reviews. Research Synthesis Methods, 13(4), pp. 405-423. (doi: 10.1002/jrsm.1569) (PMID:35560730) (PMCID:PMC9543433)
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Abstract
In fields (such as population health) where randomised trials are often lacking, systematic reviews (SRs) can harness diversity in study design, settings and populations to assess the evidence for a putative causal relationship. Some SRs incorporate causal assessment approaches (CAAs), sometimes called ‘causal reviews’, but there is currently no consensus on how these should be conducted. We conducted a methodological review of self-identifying ‘causal reviews’ within the field of population health to establish: 1) which CAAs are used; 2) differences in how CAAs are implemented; 3) how methods were modified to incorporate causal assessment in SRs. Three databases were searched and two independent reviewers selected reviews for inclusion. Data were extracted using a standardised form and summarised using tabulation and narratively. 53 reviews incorporated CAA: 46/53 applied Bradford Hill viewpoints/criteria, with the remainder taking alternative approaches: Medical Research Council guidance on natural experiments (2/53, 3.8%); realist reviews (2/53, 3.8%); horizontal systematic reviews (1/53, 1.9%); ‘sign test’ of causal mechanisms (1/53, 1.9%); and causal cascade model (1/53, 1.9%). Though most SRs incorporated Bradford Hill, there was variation in application and transparency. There was considerable overlap across the CAAs, with a trade-off between breadth (BH viewpoints considered a greater range of causal characteristics) and depth (many alternative CAAs focused on one viewpoint). Improved transparency in the implementation of CAA in SRs in needed to ensure their validity and allow robust assessments of causality within evidence synthesis.
| Item Type: | Articles |
|---|---|
| Status: | Published |
| Refereed: | Yes |
| Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: | Katikireddi, Professor Vittal and Thomson, Dr Hilary and Pearce, Dr Anna and Shimonovich, Ms Michal |
| Authors: | Shimonovich, M., Pearce, A., Thomson, H., and Katikireddi, S. V. |
| College/School: | College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences > School of Health & Wellbeing > MRC/CSO SPHSU University Services > Learning and Teaching Services Division |
| Journal Name: | Research Synthesis Methods |
| Publisher: | Wiley |
| ISSN: | 1759-2879 |
| ISSN (Online): | 1759-2887 |
| Published Online: | 13 May 2022 |
| Copyright Holders: | Copyright © 2022 The Authors |
| First Published: | First published in Research Synthesis Methods 13(4): 405-423 |
| Publisher Policy: | Reproduced under a Creative Commons License |
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