The Application of Systematic Review and Meta-analysis Concepts in Summarizing the Findings of Observational Studies
Abstract
Abstract: In contrast to traditional reviews, systematic reviews explore theliterature on a specific topic comprehensively using a well-defined protocol and recruit the findings of eligible studies after the assessment of their qualities, using a clear and reproducible method. Checking the assumptions, we may merge the findings of recruited studies in a systematic review and use metaanalysis techniques not only to estimate the pooled effect but also to assess the possible sources of heterogeneity and the extend of heterogeneity in the findings . Generally, randomized clinical trials are the most common type of studies which are recruiting in systematic reviews and meta-analyses. However, we couldn't ignore the importance of observational studies particularly in sensitivity topics with ethical limitations against interventional studies. Although we are usually faced with wide variations in the methodology of observational studies even in narrow topics, systematic review and meta-analysis of their results can generatevaluable findings. They are particularly useful for explaining the source of heterogeneity in the results of primary observational studies .In this paper, we review the basic concepts of the systematic review and metaanalysis and their main applications in summarizing the findings of observational studies with respect to their advantages and limitations.
Sackett DL, Rosenberg WMC, Gray JAM, Haynes RB, Richardson WS. Evidence based medicine: what it is and what it isn't. BMJ 1996;312: 71-72.
Greenhalgh T. How to Read a Paper: The Basics of Evidence-based Medicine. London: BMJ Publishing; 1997.
Montori VM, Swiontkowski MF, Cook DJ. Methodologic issues in systematic reviews and meta-analyses. Clin Orthop Relat Res 2003 ; 413: 43-54.
Higgins JPT, Green S . Cochrane Handbook for Systematic Reviews of Interventions Version 5.0.0 [updated February 2008]. The Cochrane Collaboration 2008.
Siegfried N, Muller M, Deeks J, Volmink J, Egger M, Low N, et al. HIV and male circumcision- a systematic review with assessment of the quality of studies. Lancet Infect Dis 2005; 5:165-173.
Macbeth F, Overgaard J. Expert reviews, systematic reviews and meta-analyses. Radiother Oncol 2002;64 : 233-234.
Sauerland S, Seiler CM. Role of systematic reviews and meta-analysis in evidence-based medicine. World J Surg 2005; 29: 582-587.
Khoshdel A, Attia J, Carney SL. Basic concepts in meta-analysis: A primer for clinicians. Int J Clin Pract 2006; 60 :1287- 1294.
Kadar N. The randomized clinical trial methodology is the most efficient and effective in evaluating new treatment strategies. Gynecol Oncol 1997;64 :185.
Juni P, Altman DG, Egger M. Systematic reviews in health care: Assessing the quality of controlled clinical trials. BMJ 2001; 323: 42-46.
Zwahlen M, Renehan A, Egger M. Meta- analysis in medical research: potentials and limitations. Urol Oncol 2008; 26: 320-329.
Khan KS. Systematic reviews to support evidence-based medicine : how to review and apply findings of healthcare research. RSM Press; 2003.
Stroup DF, Berlin JA, Morton SC, Olkin I, Williamson GD, Rennie D, et al. Meta-analysis of Observational Studies in Epidemiology: a Proposal for reporting. Meta-analysis of Observational Studies in Epidemiology(MOOSE) group. JAMA 2000; 283 : 2008-2012.
Sipe TA, Curlette WL. A meta-synthesis of factors related to educational achievement: a methodological approach to summarizing and synthesizing meta-analyses. Int J Educ Res 1996; 25: 583-698.
Ioannidis JP, Lau J. Pooling research results: benefits and limitations of meta-analysis. Jt Comm J Qual Improv 1999; 25:462-469.
Lipsett M. Occupational exposure to diesel exhaust and lung cancer: a meta-analysis. Am Public Health Assoc ;1999.P.1009-1017.
Vickers A, Cassileth B, Ernst E, Fisher P, Goldman P, Jonas W, et al. How should we research unconventional therapies? Apanel report from the conference on complementary and alternative medicine research methodology, National Institutes of Health. Int J Technol Assess Health Care1997;13: 111- 121.
Mann CC. Can meta-analysis make policy? Science 1994; 266 :960-962.
Haghdoost AA, Sadeghirad B, Rezazadehkermani M. Epidemiology and Heterogeneity of Hypertension in Iran: A Systematic Review. Arch Iran Med 2008;11:444-452.
Zhang QL , Rothenbacher D. Prevalence of chronic kidney disease in population-based studies: Systematic review. BMC Public Health 2008; 8:117-130.
Alavian S, Hajarizadeh B, Ahmadzad Asl M, Kabir A, Bagheri Lankarani K. Hepatitis B virus infection in Iran: A systematic review. . Hep Mon 2008; 8: 281-294.
Greenland S. Invited Commentary: Re: HA Critical Look at Some Popular Meta-Analytic Methods. Am J Epidemiol 1994;140 : 390-396.
Shapiro S. Meta-analysis/Shmeta-analysis. Am J Epidemiol 1994 ;140: 771-778.
Lau J, Ioannidis JP, Schmid CH. Summing up evidence. Lancet 1998; 351:123-127.
Stroup DF, Thacker SB, Olson CM, Glass RM. Characteristics of meta-analyses submitted to a medical journal. International Congress on Biomedical Peer Review and Scientific Publication. Am Med Assoc 1997. p. 17-21.
Egger M, Schneider M, Smith GD. Meta- analysis spurious precision? Meta-analysis of observational studies. BMJ 1998; 316:140- 144.
Huston P,Naylor CD. Health services research: reporting on studies using secondary data sources. CMAJ 1996;155:1697-1709.
Egger M, Smith GD, Phillips AN. Meta- analysis: principles and procedures. BMJ 1997; 315:1533-1537.
Goodman, A, Patel, V, and Leon, D. Child mental health differences amongst ethnic groups in Britain: a systematic review. BMC Public Health 2008; 25: 258-268.
Moher D, Pham B, Jones A, Cook DJ, Jadad AR, Moher M, et al. Does quality of reports of randomised trials affect estimates of intervention efficacy reported in meta- analyses? Lancet 1998; 352: 609-613.
Boyd FN, Martin LJ, Noffel M, Lockwood GA,Tritchler DL. A meta-analysis of studies of dietary fat and breast cancer. Br J Cancer 1993; 68: 627-636.
| Files | ||
| Issue | Vol 2 No 4 (2007) | |
| Section | Articles | |
| Keywords | ||
| Epidemiologic studies Mental health Systematic review Meta-analysis | ||
| Rights and permissions | |
|
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License. |
