Study-type module for network meta-analyses (NMAs). Provides section-by-section guidance aligned with the PRISMA-NMA extension, covering network geometry, consistency assessment, ranking metrics, and league-table presentation.
This module governs manuscript generation for network meta-analyses (NMAs), also known as mixed treatment comparisons. It supplements the core engine and section-specific skills with NMA-specific reporting requirements derived from the PRISMA-NMA extension statement.
The primary reporting guideline for network meta-analyses is the PRISMA extension statement for NMA:
Hutton B, Salanti G, Caldwell DM, et al. The PRISMA extension statement for reporting of systematic reviews incorporating network meta-analyses of health care interventions: checklist and explanations. Ann Intern Med. 2015;162(11):777-784.
The PRISMA-NMA checklist extends PRISMA 2020 with items specific to network geometry, consistency evaluation, treatment ranking, and league-table presentation. All NMA manuscripts must satisfy every applicable PRISMA 2020 item plus every NMA-specific extension item.
When citing the guideline in the Methods section, use the following phrasing:
"This systematic review and network meta-analysis was conducted and reported in accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses extension for Network Meta-Analyses (PRISMA-NMA) (Hutton et al., Ann Intern Med 2015;162:777-784)."
See references/prisma-nma-checklist.md for the full NMA-specific extension
items.
State the prospective registration number and repository. Template sentences:
"The protocol for this systematic review and network meta-analysis was registered prospectively with PROSPERO (registration number CRD42XXXXXXX) before the literature search was initiated. The protocol specified the eligibility criteria, search strategy, planned network geometry, and statistical methods for the network meta-analysis, including the approach to consistency assessment."
If the protocol was not registered, flag with [PLEASE VERIFY: protocol registration number] and note the omission as a limitation.
Define eligibility using the PICO framework with additional NMA-specific