Comprehensive meta analysis free download

One consultant quotes a study from a prominent orthopaedic journal, showing that bipolar hip arthroplasty is superior to unipolar hemiarthroplasty in femoral neck fractures, only to be rebutted by another consultant who cites more recent research from another journal showing that there is no difference in outcome. We have all experienced the medical equivalent of the Mexican standoff. Why conduct a systematic review and meta-analysis? This paper will provide an overview of systematic review and meta-analysis and will: 1) examine the rationale for conducting such a study, 2) overview the methodology, and 3) highlight pitfalls and weaknesses inherent in the process.

1 However, systematic review and metaanalyses are not without their critics. The perceived ability of systematic reviews and meta-analyses to concisely and definitively summarise existing literature regarding a specific medical question or issue has made them the most highly read and cited form of academic literature. A systematic review becomes the basis for the next step where all data is synthesised into a single estimate or summary of effect. Systematic reviews are specifically aimed at reducing bias by identifying, appraising and synthesising all relevant studies. While traditional narrative reviews remain informative, they are prone to bias as the author is free to select only those articles they believe are important. Systematic reviews and meta-analyses have exploded into prominence in the medical literature. Key words: systematic review, meta-analysis, review Furthermore, we examine the rationale for conducting such a study, overview the methodology, and highlight pitfalls and weaknesses inherent in the process. This paper aims to provide an overview of systematic reviews and meta-analyses.

In order to conduct a rigorous systematic review, all the elements of the research question should be clearly stated, all relevant studies should be identified, the inclusion criteria should be appropriate and the included studies valid, heterogeneity should be identified, and finally the results of the meta-analyses should be appropriately presented. However, the evidence they provide is only as good as the data evaluated and the methodology followed when doing them. The perceived ability of systematic reviews and meta-analyses to concisely and definitively summarise existing literature regarding a specific medical issue has made them the most highly read and cited form of academic literature. IIMBChB, FC(Orth)(SA), MMed(Orth), CIME, PhD, Department of Orthopaedics, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg, South Africa IMBChB, FCA(Anaes), Cert Crit Care, MMed(Anaes), MSc(HRM), PhD, Department of Anaesthetics, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg, South Africa Meta-analysis: Everything you wanted to know but were afraid to ask

Comprehensive meta analysis free download