What kind of study is a meta analysis?

What kind of study is a meta analysis?

Meta-analysis is a quantitative, formal, epidemiological study design used to systematically assess the results of previous research to derive conclusions about that body of research. Typically, but not necessarily, the study is based on randomized, controlled clinical trials.

How does meta-analysis work?

A meta-analysis is a statistical analysis that combines the results of multiple scientific studies. A key benefit of this approach is the aggregation of information leading to a higher statistical power and more robust point estimate than is possible from the measure derived from any individual study.

How reliable are meta-analysis?

Larger meta-analyses (i.e., those with several hundred events) are likely to be more reliable and may be clinically useful. Well-conducted meta-analyses of large trials using individual patient data may provide the best estimates of treatment effects in the cohort overall and in clinically important subgroups.

Is meta analysis hard?

In summary, a meta-analysis is an important and valuable tool for summarizing data from multiple studies. However, it is not an easy task and requires careful thought and planning to provide accurate and useful information.

Can you have a meta-analysis without a systematic review?

Sometimes if you have access to the numerical data you may not have to do a systematic review. For example some drug companies run trials and have the data so they run a meta-analysis without doing a systematic review. So: 1) There are many systematic reviews without performing a meta-analysis.

Is meta-analysis the highest level of evidence?

When searching for evidence-based information, one should select the highest level of evidence possible–systematic reviews or meta-analysis. Systematic reviews, meta-analysis, and critically-appraised topics/articles have all gone through an evaluation process: they have been “filtered”.