<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><sec id="j_FON-2019-0018_s_006_w2aab3b7b4b1b6b1aab1c16b1Aa"><h3>Objective</h3><p>This study assessed the methodological quality of systematic reviews/meta-analysis of the effectiveness of probiotics against irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) using the accepted methodological quality assessment scale AMSTAR and explored the factors that influenced the quality of methodology. It was designed to provide a reference for future research and systematic reviews/metaanalysis.</p></sec><sec id="j_FON-2019-0018_s_007_w2aab3b7b4b1b6b1aab1c16b2Aa"><h3>Methods</h3><p>The methodological quality of existing systematic reviews/meta-analysis was evaluated using the AMSTAR scale. Influencing factors of methodological quality were statistically analyzed using RevMan 5.3 software. The included systematic reviews/metaanalysis must include the following characteristics: (1) methods using systematic evaluation/meta-analysis, (2) probiotic intervention, and (3) language limitation to Chinese and English.</p></sec><sec id="j_FON-2019-0018_s_008_w2aab3b7b4b1b6b1aab1c16b3Aa"><h3>Results</h3><p>The AMSTAR score was 5–9 (7.42 ± 1.22), and the quality is above average. The factors affecting the methodological quality are the number of authors and whether they cooperate with the institution.</p></sec><sec id="j_FON-2019-0018_s_009_w2aab3b7b4b1b6b1aab1c16b4Aa"><h3>Conclusions</h3><p>Studies have shown that current systematic reviews/meta-analysis of the effectiveness of probiotics on IBS does not fully comply with methodological quality standards, and therefore the methodological quality of research in this area needs to be strengthened. To better clarify how probiotics affect IBS, future systematic reviews and meta-analyses should not only follow methodological quality standards but also include more effective outcome measures, and they should focus more on the discussion of research results. We look forward to the development of higher-quality randomized controlled trials in the future.</p></sec></abstract>

ObjectiveThis study assessed the methodological quality of systematic reviews/meta-analysis of the effectiveness of probiotics against irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) using the accepted methodological quality assessment scale AMSTAR and explored the factors that influenced the quality of methodology. It was designed to provide a reference for future research and systematic reviews/metaanalysis.MethodsThe methodological quality of existing systematic reviews/meta-analysis was evaluated using the AMSTAR scale. Influencing factors of methodological quality were statistically analyzed using RevMan 5.3 software. The included systematic reviews/metaanalysis must include the following characteristics: (1) methods using systematic evaluation/meta-analysis, (2) probiotic intervention, and (3) language limitation to Chinese and English.ResultsThe AMSTAR score was 5–9 (7.42 ± 1.22), and the quality is above average. The factors affecting the methodological quality are the number of authors and whether they cooperate with the institution.ConclusionsStudies have shown that current systematic reviews/meta-analysis of the effectiveness of probiotics on IBS does not fully comply with methodological quality standards, and therefore the methodological quality of research in this area needs to be strengthened. To better clarify how probiotics affect IBS, future systematic reviews and meta-analyses should not only follow methodological quality standards but also include more effective outcome measures, and they should focus more on the discussion of research results. We look forward to the development of higher-quality randomized controlled trials in the future.

Effectiveness of probiotics in irritable bowel syndrome: methodological quality of meta-analyses and systematic reviews

Frontiers of Nursing

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 License.

ObjectiveThis study assessed the methodological quality of systematic reviews/meta-analysis of the effectiveness of probiotics against irritable bowel syndrome...

Effectiveness of probiotics in irritable bowel syndrome: methodological quality of meta-analyses and systematic reviews

Article Category: Original article

Published Online: Jul 10, 2019

Page range: 115 - 121

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/FON-2019-0018

Keywords
probiotics, irritable bowel syndrome, systematic review, meta-analysis, methodological quality

© 2019 Yuan Jia et al., published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 License.

Effectiveness of probiotics in irritable bowel syndrome: methodological quality of meta-analyses and systematic reviews

Article Category: Original article

Published Online: Jul 10, 2019

Page range: 115 - 121

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/FON-2019-0018

Keywordsprobiotics, irritable bowel syndrome, systematic review, meta-analysis, methodological quality

© 2019 Yuan Jia et al., published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 License.

Keywords
probiotics, irritable bowel syndrome, systematic review, meta-analysis, methodological quality