Understand what publication bias is and describe how it could arise
Be familiar with the design and interpretation of funnel plots
Be aware of other relationships which can cause funnel plot asymmetry
Be aware of other forms of bias in the reporting of studies, especially duplicate publication, selective reporting of outcomes and subscales, and subgroups of data.
Consider methods of reducing the potential impact of publication bias on the results of a systematic review
Be aware of ongoing research in this field
Other relevant material
Power Point presentation on reading a funnel plot
Relevant sections of the Reviewers’ Handbook
Section 8.11
Where does this go in a Cochrane review?
Ensure your search strategy is as sensitive as it can be to reduce the chances of missing negative studies, possibly attempt to measure publication bias as part of the analysis of your review in RevMan and consider the likelihood of publication bias in your review’s Discussion.
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