Conclusiveness of the Cochrane reviews in gynaecological cancer: A systematic analysis

Abstract

Objective To assess the conclusiveness of Cochrane reviews in the field of gynaecological cancer. Methods The Cochrane Library was searched for reviews regarding gynaecological cancer published between 1 January 2000 and 1 November 2014. Data were extracted from each paper and the conclusiveness of each review was assessed. Results The study included 66 reviews, 41 (62.1%) of which were conclusive. Of these, 58 included randomized controlled trials (RCTs), 37 (63.8%) of which were conclusive. Conclusive reviews of RCTs included significantly more patients than inconclusive reviews, but there was no difference in the number of included studies. Of the eight reviews of nonrandomized studies, four (50.0%) were conclusive. The majority of reviews recognized the need for additional studies. Conclusions In the field of gynaecological cancer, reviews are more likely to be conclusive when they include RCTs, as well as large numbers of patients.