How Does Publication Bias Affect Clinical Guidelines?
Clinical guidelines are often based on systematic reviews and meta-analyses of published research. If the pool of available studies is skewed due to publication bias, the guidelines may be based on incomplete or inaccurate evidence. This can have serious repercussions for patient care, as practitioners may follow recommendations that do not reflect the true risks and benefits of treatments. For example, guidelines on endometriosis management may favor certain surgical techniques or medications without a full understanding of their efficacy and safety.
