Open AccessMeta‐analysis: A Brief Introduction
Author(s) -
Andrel Jocelyn A.,
Keith Scott W.,
Leiby Benjamin E.
Publication year - 2009
Publication title -
clinical and translational science
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.303
H-Index - 44
eISSN - 1752-8062
pISSN - 1752-8054
DOI - 10.1111/j.1752-8062.2009.00152.x
Subject(s) - meta analysis , funnel plot , publication bias , computer science , outcome (game theory) , random effects model , set (abstract data type) , process (computing) , data science , statistical analysis , selection (genetic algorithm) , risk analysis (engineering) , statistics , medicine , artificial intelligence , mathematics , pathology , mathematical economics , programming language , operating system
Meta‐analysis is the process of combining data from multiple sources and analyzing it together to increase power and provide a clearer picture of the effect of intervention or exposure on an outcome. The process is not complicated, but requires a great deal of attention to detail. A specific set of inclusion criteria for studies must be defined. Published or available study results may be affected by publication bias of several different types, so the researcher should be sure to conduct a thorough search of available databases in order to include unpublished findings. Following selection, the group of studies should be examined using funnel plots or statistical tests. Meta‐analysis models themselves must be selected to properly reflect the combined studies. Both fixed‐ and random‐effects modeling are discussed. Two case studies are presented, illustrating a well‐conducted meta‐analysis and a meta‐analysis that was more controversial.