1. HS4160 Critical Scientific Analysis

2. Objectives
Understand and evaluate the key components of the meta-analysis paper.
Learn how to conduct literature search for the meta-analysis study.
Understand forest plot presented.
Review statistical measurement used.
Evaluate strength and weakness of the meta-analysis paper.

3. Meta-analysis A statistical analysis of a collection of studies.
Contrasting and comparing results from different studies.
Synthetic goal - identifying consistent patterns among different studies.
Analytic goal - identifying sources of disagreements among different studies.

4. Major Steps

5. Type of Data

6. Questions should ask
1. What is the summary measure? 2. What does the forest plot show? 3. What does the pooled effect (average effect) mean? 4. Was it valid to combine studies?
Bravata DM, Smith-Spangler C, Sundaram V, et al. JAMA. 2007:298: )

7. Study Selection

8. Statistical Analysis
Relative risks (RRs) and 95% CIs from individual studies.
Univariate meta-regression.
A two-sided p value less than 0.05.
STATA software.
Wojcik et. al., American J of Medical Genetics, Part A, 2009

9. Forest Plot
Bravata DM, Smith-Spangler C, Sundaram V, et al. JAMA. 2007:298: )

10. Data Summary