Guidelines on How to Perform a Meta-Analysis in Spine Surgery: Strengths and Weaknesses of Design.
Clin Spine Surg
; 32(1): 30-31, 2019 02.
Article
in En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-30222619
ABSTRACT
There are many questions in the literature that remain unanswered due to the paucity of available subjects or the large sample size needed to detect a difference. A meta-analysis consists of integrating together data from multiple studies into one larger data set in order to increase the subject size and power of a paper. In essence, it is a systematic review in which one uses statistical methods to summarize the results of these studies. It is important that a meta-analysis be performed in a systematic and orderly manner with the assistance of a statistician. When carried out correctly, these studies serve as powerful tools to help us better address our knowledge. Because of their complexity, they are prone to bias at multiple levels. This article will discuss the steps involved in performing a meta-analysis, select good studies, as well as explain the statistics conducted in these studies. Furthermore, we will discuss examples from the literature that demonstrate a good meta-analysis.
Full text:
1
Collection:
01-internacional
Database:
MEDLINE
Main subject:
Spine
/
Meta-Analysis as Topic
/
Guidelines as Topic
Type of study:
Clinical_trials
/
Guideline
/
Systematic_reviews
Limits:
Humans
Language:
En
Journal:
Clin Spine Surg
Year:
2019
Document type:
Article