| Edition |
Revised edition. |
| Physical description |
1 online resource (1 text file) |
| Series |
What is ...? series |
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What is ...? series
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| Summary |
Meta-analysis is a set of statistical techniques for combining data from independent studies to produce a single estimate of effect. Meta-analysis is often used within healthcare, but is also applied in other disciplines including psychology and the social sciences. Within healthcare, meta-analysis is often used to assess the clinical effectiveness of interventions; it does this by combining data from two or more studies (usually randomised controlled trials). Meta-analysis of trials provides more precise estimates of treatment effect, by making use of all available data. Meta-analysis is often part of the systematic review process, many systematic reviews include one or more meta-analyses. The validity of any meta-analysis depends on the studies on which it is based. Well-conducted meta-analyses aim for complete coverage of all relevant studies, look for the presence of heterogeneity among studies, and explore the robustness of the main findings using sensitivity analysis. |
| System notes |
Mode of access: Internet via World Wide Web. |
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System requirements: Adobe Acrobat reader to access the document in PDF format. |
| Subject |
Meta-analysis.
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Medicine -- Research -- Methodology.
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Clinical trials -- Meta-analysis.
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Medical statistics.
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