Publications· 2026Q1· Review
The Newcastle–Ottawa Scale for Assessing the Quality of Studies in Systematic Reviews
- 152citations
- Q1SCImago
- 2026year
Short summary
This commentary addresses ambiguities and subjectivity in the Newcastle–Ottawa Scale (NOS), a widely used tool for assessing observational study quality in systematic reviews.
AI-generated from the title and abstract; the full text is not read.
Key points
- The Newcastle–Ottawa Scale (NOS) is widely used to assess the quality of observational studies in systematic reviews.
- Ambiguities and excessive subjectivity have been noted in the application of the NOS.
- This commentary offers practical recommendations and examples to improve NOS item completion.
- Enhancing NOS accuracy is vital for reliable data synthesis and interpretation in health sciences.
AI-generated from the title and abstract; the full text is not read.
Abstract
Secondary research is a cornerstone of health sciences, with substantial implications for clinical practice and health policy. Within the systematic review process, a key step is assessing study quality and risk of bias. Among the tools available for evaluating observational studies, the Newcastle–Ottawa Scale (NOS) holds a prominent position and is widely applied in medical research. However, ambiguities and excessive subjectivity have been noted in its application. In this commentary, we discuss the Newcastle–Ottawa Scale guidelines, providing illustrative examples and practical recommendations for completing its items. Improving the accuracy of risk-of-bias assessment is crucial for enhancing the reliability of data synthesis and interpretation in the health sciences.
The authors' abstract, as published at the source. Publications, 2026 · DOI ↗
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Statistics, Probability and UncertaintyDecision Sciences