About NOS-TLPlot

NOS-TLPlot is an open-source Python tool for visualizing Newcastle-Ottawa Scale (NOS) risk-of-bias assessments. It converts NOS star ratings into publication-ready traffic-light plots and 12 specialized visualizations, enabling reviewers and readers to interpret study-level risk-of-bias results clearly and reproducibly.

Why I made this?

I built NOS‑TLPlot because I got frustrated seeing researchers spend hours manually making risk-of-bias plots for non-randomized studies (NOS studies). I wanted a tool that's easy to use, looks great for publications, and just works. My motivation was simple: save people time, make their work reproducible, and let them focus on the science instead of fiddling with charts.

Visualization Types

1. Traffic-light Plot

Standard NOS visualization

2. Radar Chart

Multi-domain assessment

3. Heatmap

Study comparison matrix

4. Dot Profile

Detailed domain analysis

5. Donut Chart

Proportional representation

6. Lollipop Plot

Score distribution

7. Stacked Area

Cumulative assessment

8. Pie Chart

Risk category breakdown

9. Line Ordered

Sequential analysis

10. Table View

Structured data display

11. Thematic Radar

Enhanced radar charts

12. Star Distribution

NOS score analysis

Example Visualizations Generated with NOS-TLPlot

NOS-TLPlot bubble plot showing Newcastle-Ottawa Scale risk-of-bias results across studies
NOS bubble plot
NOS domain scores ordered by total score visualization
Domain Scores Ordered by Total Score
Total NOS scores by study lollipop chart
Total NOS Scores by Study (Lollipop Chart)
NOS domain score profiles by study dot chart
Domain Score Profiles by Study
Risk distribution by NOS domain stacked area chart
Risk Distribution by Domain (Stacked Area Chart)
Distribution of overall risk of bias pie chart from NOS assessment
Distribution of Overall Risk of Bias Pie

Frequently Asked Questions

What is NOS-TLPlot?

NOS-TLPlot is a free open-source Python tool for visualizing Newcastle-Ottawa Scale (NOS) risk-of-bias assessments. It produces 12 publication-ready plot types including traffic-light plots, radar charts, heatmaps, lollipop charts, and donut charts for systematic reviews and meta-analyses.

How do I use the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale visualization tool?

You can use NOS-TLPlot through the web interface (no coding required) at nos-tlplot.streamlit.app or nos-tlplot.vercel.app, or via the Python package. Input your NOS star ratings and the tool generates publication-ready risk-of-bias visualizations.

Is NOS-TLPlot free and open-source?

Yes. NOS-TLPlot is 100% free and open-source under the Apache 2.0 license. The source code is available on GitHub at github.com/aurumz-rgb/NOS-TLPlot.

Which visualization types does NOS-TLPlot support?

NOS-TLPlot supports 12 visualization types: traffic-light plot, radar chart, heatmap, dot profile, donut chart, lollipop plot, stacked area, pie chart, line ordered, table view, thematic radar, and star distribution.

Can NOS-TLPlot be used for meta-analysis risk-of-bias plots?

Yes. NOS-TLPlot is designed specifically for generating publication-ready risk-of-bias plots that can be directly used in systematic reviews and meta-analyses following PRISMA guidelines.