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Meta-analysis: Neither quick nor easy

BACKGROUND: Meta-analysis is often considered to be a simple way to summarize the existing literature. In this paper we describe how a meta-analysis resembles a conventional study, requiring a written protocol with design elements that parallel those of a record review. METHODS: The paper provides a...

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Detalles Bibliográficos
Autores principales: Berman, Nancy G, Parker, Robert A
Formato: Texto
Lenguaje:English
Publicado: BioMed Central 2002
Materias:
Acceso en línea:https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC122061/
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12171604
http://dx.doi.org/10.1186/1471-2288-2-10
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author Berman, Nancy G
Parker, Robert A
author_facet Berman, Nancy G
Parker, Robert A
author_sort Berman, Nancy G
collection PubMed
description BACKGROUND: Meta-analysis is often considered to be a simple way to summarize the existing literature. In this paper we describe how a meta-analysis resembles a conventional study, requiring a written protocol with design elements that parallel those of a record review. METHODS: The paper provides a structure for creating a meta-analysis protocol. Some guidelines for measurement of the quality of papers are given. A brief overview of statistical considerations is included. Four papers are reviewed as examples. The examples generally followed the guidelines we specify in reporting the studies and results, but in some of the papers there was insufficient information on the meta-analysis process. CONCLUSIONS: Meta-analysis can be a very useful method to summarize data across many studies, but it requires careful thought, planning and implementation.
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spelling pubmed-1220612002-09-09 Meta-analysis: Neither quick nor easy Berman, Nancy G Parker, Robert A BMC Med Res Methodol Research Article BACKGROUND: Meta-analysis is often considered to be a simple way to summarize the existing literature. In this paper we describe how a meta-analysis resembles a conventional study, requiring a written protocol with design elements that parallel those of a record review. METHODS: The paper provides a structure for creating a meta-analysis protocol. Some guidelines for measurement of the quality of papers are given. A brief overview of statistical considerations is included. Four papers are reviewed as examples. The examples generally followed the guidelines we specify in reporting the studies and results, but in some of the papers there was insufficient information on the meta-analysis process. CONCLUSIONS: Meta-analysis can be a very useful method to summarize data across many studies, but it requires careful thought, planning and implementation. BioMed Central 2002-08-09 /pmc/articles/PMC122061/ /pubmed/12171604 http://dx.doi.org/10.1186/1471-2288-2-10 Text en Copyright © 2002 Berman and Parker; licensee BioMed Central Ltd. This is an Open Access article: verbatim copying and redistribution of this article are permitted in all media for any purpose, provided this notice is preserved along with the article's original URL.
spellingShingle Research Article
Berman, Nancy G
Parker, Robert A
Meta-analysis: Neither quick nor easy
title Meta-analysis: Neither quick nor easy
title_full Meta-analysis: Neither quick nor easy
title_fullStr Meta-analysis: Neither quick nor easy
title_full_unstemmed Meta-analysis: Neither quick nor easy
title_short Meta-analysis: Neither quick nor easy
title_sort meta-analysis: neither quick nor easy
topic Research Article
url https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC122061/
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12171604
http://dx.doi.org/10.1186/1471-2288-2-10
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