TY - JOUR
T1 - Methodological quality and synthesis of case series and case reports
AU - Murad, Mohammad Hassan
AU - Sultan, Shahnaz
AU - Haffar, Samir
AU - Bazerbachi, Fateh
PY - 2018/4
Y1 - 2018/4
N2 - Case reports and case series are uncontrolled study designs known for increased risk of bias but have profoundly influenced the medical literature and continue to advance our knowledge. In this guide, we present a framework for appraisal, synthesis and application of evidence derived from case reports and case series. We propose a tool to evaluate the methodological quality of case reports and case series based on the domains of selection, ascertainment, causality and reporting and provide signalling questions to aid evidence-based practitioners and systematic reviewers in their assessment. We suggest using evidence derived from case reports and case series to inform decision-making when no other higher level of evidence is available.
AB - Case reports and case series are uncontrolled study designs known for increased risk of bias but have profoundly influenced the medical literature and continue to advance our knowledge. In this guide, we present a framework for appraisal, synthesis and application of evidence derived from case reports and case series. We propose a tool to evaluate the methodological quality of case reports and case series based on the domains of selection, ascertainment, causality and reporting and provide signalling questions to aid evidence-based practitioners and systematic reviewers in their assessment. We suggest using evidence derived from case reports and case series to inform decision-making when no other higher level of evidence is available.
KW - epidemiology
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85044842924&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=85044842924&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1136/bmjebm-2017-110853
DO - 10.1136/bmjebm-2017-110853
M3 - Article
C2 - 29420178
AN - SCOPUS:85044842924
VL - 23
SP - 60
EP - 63
JO - Evidence-Based Medicine
JF - Evidence-Based Medicine
SN - 1356-5524
IS - 2
ER -