Preventing confounding in observational studies in orthopedic trauma surgery through expert panels: a systematic review
Publication date
2025-01-24
Authors
Groenwold, Rolf H.H.
van Rossenberg, L. X.
Smeeing, D. P.J.
Houwert, Roderick M.
Schoones, J. W.
Muijs, sander
Oner, F. Cumhur
de Jong, Y.
van de Wall, B. J.M.
NEXT Study Group
Editors
Advisors
Supervisors
Document Type
Article
Metadata
Show full item recordCollections
License
cc_by
Abstract
PURPOSE: Confounding in observational studies can be mitigated by selecting only those patients, in whom equipoise of both treatments is secured by experts' disagreement over optimal therapy. METHODS: We conducted a systematic review to identify observational studies in the field of orthopedic trauma surgery that utilized expert panels for patient inclusion in order to limit the potential for confounding. RESULTS: Four studies were identified that used expert panels to select participants based on expert disagreement. Derived from these studies and our own experience, recommendations were made regarding reporting of the size and composition of the expert panel, the information the expert panel receives, criteria for disagreement, selection of patients, and statistical analysis. CONCLUSION: With this review we aim to provide insight into this study design and to stimulate discussions about the potential of expert panels to control for confounding in studies of medical treatments.
Keywords
Confounding, Methodology, Natural experiment, Orthopedic trauma, Study design, Surgery, Emergency Medicine, Orthopedics and Sports Medicine, Critical Care and Intensive Care Medicine
Citation
Groenwold, R H H, van Rossenberg, L X, Smeeing, D P J, Houwert, R M, Schoones, J W, Muijs, S P J, Oner, F C, de Jong, Y, van de Wall, B J M & NEXT Study Group 2025, 'Preventing confounding in observational studies in orthopedic trauma surgery through expert panels : a systematic review', European Journal of Trauma and Emergency Surgery, vol. 51, no. 1, 36. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00068-024-02690-w