Completing ‘Summary of findings’ tables and grading the certainty of the evidence

Chapter 14 Completing ‘Summary of findings’ tables and grading the certainty of the evidence Holger J Schünemann, Holger J SchünemannSearch for more papers by this authorJulian PT Higgins, Julian PT HigginsSearch for more papers by this authorGunn E Vist, Gunn E VistSearch for more papers by this authorPaul Glasziou, Paul GlasziouSearch for more papers by this authorElie A Akl, Elie A AklSearch for more papers by this authorNicole Skoetz, Nicole SkoetzSearch for more papers by this authorGordon H Guyatt, Gordon H GuyattSearch for more papers by this authoron behalf of the Cochrane GRADEing Methods Group (formerly Applicability and Recommendations Methods Group) and the Cochrane Statistical Methods Group, on behalf of the Cochrane GRADEing Methods Group (formerly Applicability and Recommendations Methods Group) and the Cochrane Statistical Methods GroupSearch for more papers by this author Holger J Schünemann, Holger J SchünemannSearch for more papers by this authorJulian PT Higgins, Julian PT HigginsSearch for more papers by this authorGunn E Vist, Gunn E VistSearch for more papers by this authorPaul Glasziou, Paul GlasziouSearch for more papers by this authorElie A Akl, Elie A AklSearch for more papers by this authorNicole Skoetz, Nicole SkoetzSearch for more papers by this authorGordon H Guyatt, Gordon H GuyattSearch for more papers by this authoron behalf of the Cochrane GRADEing Methods Group (formerly Applicability and Recommendations Methods Group) and the Cochrane Statistical Methods Group, on behalf of the Cochrane GRADEing Methods Group (formerly Applicability and Recommendations Methods Group) and the Cochrane Statistical Methods GroupSearch for more papers by this author Book Editor(s):Julian P.T. Higgins, Julian P.T. HigginsSearch for more papers by this authorJames Thomas, James ThomasSearch for more papers by this authorJacqueline Chandler, Jacqueline ChandlerSearch for more papers by this authorMiranda Cumpston, Miranda CumpstonSearch for more papers by this authorTianjing Li, Tianjing LiSearch for more papers by this authorMatthew J. Page, Matthew J. PageSearch for more papers by this authorVivian A. Welch, Vivian A. WelchSearch for more papers by this author First published: 20 September 2019 https://doi.org/10.1002/9781119536604.ch14Citations: 17 AboutPDFPDF ToolsRequest permissionExport citationAdd to favoritesTrack citation ShareShareShare a linkShare onFacebookTwitterLinked InRedditWechat Summary Planning for the ‘Summary of findings’ table starts early in the systematic review, with the selection of the outcomes to be included in: the review; and the ‘Summary of findings’ table. This is a crucial step, and one that review authors need to address carefully. To ensure production of optimally useful information, Cochrane Reviews begin by developing a review question and by listing all main outcomes that are important to patients and other decision makers. The GRADE approach to assessing the certainty of the evidence defines and operationalizes a rating process that helps separate outcomes into those that are critical, important or not important for decision making. Review authors should report the grading of the certainty of evidence in the Results section for each outcome for which this has been performed, providing the rationale for downgrading or upgrading the evidence, and referring to the ‘Summary of findings’ table where applicable. Citing Literature Cochrane Handbook for Systematic Reviews of Interventions, Second Edition RelatedInformation