Assessing Language Bias in Pediatric Surgical Systematic Reviews: A Meta-epidemiological Study

jpedsurg.org

Linguistic bias limits insight from non-English regions and potentially skews conclusions toward Western contexts. We evaluated the extent and impact of language-based exclusions in systematic reviews (SRs) within pediatric surgery, assessing how such limitations threaten the comprehensiveness and generalizability of evidence syntheses.

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Article · Feb 2026 · 1 min read

In brief

This meta-epidemiological study examines how language restrictions in pediatric surgery systematic reviews may introduce bias by excluding non-English literature, potentially limiting evidence from non-Western regions. The research evaluates whether such exclusions compromise the comprehensiveness and applicability of clinical evidence syntheses in pediatric surgical practice.

Language-based exclusions in systematic reviews create linguistic bias that limits insights from non-English speaking regions.
Restricting reviews to English-only studies may skew conclusions toward Western clinical contexts and practices.
Non-English literature exclusion threatens the comprehensiveness and global generalizability of pediatric surgical evidence.
Meta-epidemiological analysis reveals systematic language bias as a methodological concern in pediatric surgery reviews.
Including multilingual sources is essential for capturing diverse clinical practices and outcomes in global pediatric surgery.

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