Meta-analysis for orthodontists:: Part I – How to choose effect measure and statistical model

• Autores: Spyridon N. Papageorgiou
• Localización: Journal of orthodontics, ISSN-e 0301-228X, ISSN 1465-3125, Vol. 41, Nº. 4, 2014, págs. 317-326
• Idioma: inglés
• Enlaces
  • Texto completo
• Resumen

  • Systematic reviews ideally provide a comprehensive and unbiased summary of existing evidence from clinical studies, whilst meta-analysis combines the results of these studies to produce an overall estimate. Collectively, this makes them invaluable for clinical decision-making. Although the number of published systematic reviews and meta-analyses in orthodontics has increased, questions are often raised about their methodological soundness. In this primer, the first steps of meta-analysis are discussed, namely the choice of an effect measure to express the results of included studies, and the choice of a statistical model for the meta-analysis.