Meta-analysis is a systematic review of a focused topic in the literature that provides a quantitative estimate for the effect of a treatment intervention or exposure. ... The techniques used in meta-analysis provide a structured and standardized approach for analyzing prior findings in a specific topic in the literature.
What is an example of meta analysis?
For example, a systematic review will focus specifically on the relationship between cervical cancer and long-term use of oral contraceptives , while a narrative review may be about cervical cancer. Meta-analyses are quantitative and more rigorous than both types of reviews.
How do you know if an article is a meta analysis?
In most Library databases, you can find meta-analysis research articles by using meta analysis as a search term . There are a few databases that have special limiters for publication type or methodology in the advanced searching section. ... Scroll down to the section: Nursing articles, journals & books.
What type of article is a meta analysis?
► Meta-analysis: This is a type of research study that combines or contrasts data from different independent studies in a new analysis in order to strengthen the understanding of a particular topic.
What is the difference between a systematic review and meta analysis?
A systematic review attempts to gather all available empirical research by using clearly defined , systematic methods to obtain answers to a specific question. A meta-analysis is the statistical process of analyzing and combining results from several similar studies.
How many pages should a meta-analysis be?
You can definitely do a meta-analysis using 9 studies , as long as you’ve exhausted your search. Theoretically you can do a meta-analysis with only 2 or 3 studies so 9 is plenty.
What is the difference between a literature review and a meta-analysis?
A Literature review is the analysis of all existing literature in a field of study. ... Meta Analysis, on the other hand, is an analysis of similar scientific studies to establish an estimate closest to the common point of truth that exist between them .
How do you write a good meta-analysis?
- Rule 1: Specify the topic and type of the meta-analysis. ...
- Rule 2: Follow available guidelines for different types of meta-analyses. ...
- Rule 3: Establish inclusion criteria and define key variables. ...
- Rule 4: Carry out a systematic search in different databases and extract key data.
What do you need for a meta-analysis?
The steps of meta analysis are similar to that of a systematic review and include framing of a question, searching of literature , abstraction of data from individual studies, and framing of summary estimates and examination of publication bias.
How many studies do you need for a meta-analysis?
Two studies is a sufficient number to perform a meta-analysis, provided that those two studies can be meaningfully pooled and provided their results are sufficiently ‘similar’.
Why is a meta-analysis Good?
Meta-analysis provides a more precise estimate of the effect size and increases the generalizability of the results of individual studies . Therefore, it may enable the resolution of conflicts between studies, and yield conclusive results when individual studies are inconclusive.
What are the benefits of a meta-analysis?
Meta-analysis now offers the opportunity to critically evaluate and statistically combine results of comparable studies or trials . Its major purposes are to increase the numbers of observations and the statistical power, and to improve the estimates of the effect size of an intervention or an association.
Are meta-analysis original articles?
A meta-analysis is a type of systematic review that uses a statistical strategy for assembling the results of several studies into a single estimate. ... However, a relatively large proportion of journals recognize a systematic review and meta-analysis as an original article .
How do you perform a meta-analysis and a systematic review?
- Formulate the review question. ...
- Define inclusion and exclusion criteria. ...
- Develop search strategy and locate studies. ...
- Select studies. ...
- Extract data. ...
- Assess study quality. ...
- Analyze and interpret results. ...
- Disseminate findings.
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?
The systematic review or meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and evidence-based practice guidelines are considered to be the strongest level of evidence on which to guide practice decisions.
