Characteristics of meta-analyses related to acceptance for publication in a medical journal

Editors of medical journals select manuscripts for publication based, in pa rt, on the perceived quality of the manuscript submitted. The objective of this study was to describe associations between acceptance for publication and quality-related methodologic characteristics of meta-analyses. This was a prospective observational study. The setting was editorial offices of JA MA and offices of external reviewers. The manuscripts reviewed were 112 con secutive meta-analyses submitted to JAMA during 1996 and 1997 whose authors agreed to participate. The main outcome measures were ratings of 16 method ologic characteristics reflecting quality of the mete-analysis and acceptan ce for publication. A "high" rating for one methodologic characteristic. wh ether the report of the meta-analysis provided sufficient detail to enable replication, was related significantly to publication (RR = 2.79, 95% CI = 1.13-6.89). This relationship persisted when other variables were controlle d for in the model. Generally, rejected manuscripts had fewer factors rated "high," but differences were not significant. We found that inclusion of s ufficient detail to allow a reader to replicate meta-analytic methods was t he only characteristic related to acceptance for publication. (C) 2001 Else vier Science Inc. All rights reserved.