Journal List > J Korean Acad Nurs > v.43(6) > 1002959

Kim and Kim: A Quality Assessment of Meta-Analyses of Nursing in South Korea

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of the study was to assess the quality of meta-analyses on nursing published in South Korea.

Methods

Relevant meta-analyses were identified through searches of the National Assembly Library, KISS (Korean Studies Information Service System), and the DBpia and RISS4U databases from 1990 to May 2013. Quality assessments were conducted using AMSTAR, a validated tool for assessing the quality of systematic reviews.

Results

Forty-two meta-analyses were included in this study. Twenty-nine published between 1990 and 2010, and 13, between 2011 and May 2013. Two high quality studies and 11 moderate quality studies were published in the latter period. The mean score for the reviews was 5.61 (range 3-10); 11 studies were rated as low quality, 29 as moderate quality, and two as high quality.

Conclusion

Although an improvement in the quality of meta-analyses conducted by nursing researchers in South Korea was observed across the study period, the study results indicate a need to use of more rigorous research methods when conducting systematic reviews or meta-analyses.

Figures and Tables

Figure 1
Literature searches and results.
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Table 1
Quality of Studies according to Study Characteristics (N=42)
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KCI=Korea Citation Index.

Table 2
Methodological Quality of Meta-analysis of Nursing Research in Korea (N=42)
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AMSTAR=Assessment of Multiple Systematic Reviews.

Table 3
Correlation between the Publication Year and Quality of Studies (N=42)
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Notes

This work was supported by a Korea Research Foundation Grant funded by the Korean Government (MOEHRD, Basic Research Promotion Fund) (2012R1A1B5000460).

Appendix

APPENDIX

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