Methods in Evidence Synthesis seminar (MESS)
Join the meeting: https://bristol-ac-uk.zoom.us/j/96983719539?pwd=S29nd3loZ3FBODJZVHV3clJORW1rQT09
Systematic reviews of quantitative studies typically include assessments of the risk of bias in results of included studies. The ROBINS-I tool for assessing risk of bias in results of non-randomized studies of interventions was published in 2016, and has been very widely adopted. Here, the lead developers of ROBINS-I will describe work that has taken place since the publication of ROBINS-I. This includes development of a revised version of ROBINS-I that implements some of the novelties adopted in the RoB 2 tool for randomized trials, including improvements to signalling questions and the creation of algorithms to map responses to signalling questions onto proposed risk of bias judgements. The speakers will also describe a new tool, ROBINS-E, for assessing risk of bias in non-randomized studies of exposures. The ROBINS-E tool was developed primarily for use in systematic reviews examining the effect of an exposure on an outcome. It follows a similar structure to ROBINS-I although has more detailed preliminary considerations and some additional considerations that should help with using the tool in the context of a triangulation of diverse evidence addressing a similar underlying question.
Both tools currently focus on studies with a follow-up (cohort-like) design. Versions for other designs and analytic approaches are in development. The ROBINS-E tool can be accessed at https://www.riskofbias.info/welcome/robins-e-tool