Meta-analytic Tools for Medical Decision Making: A Practical Guide

Abstract

This paper is an extension of notes used for the short course in meta-analysis given at the 13th and 14th annual meetings of the Society for Medical Decision Making. The material covers both standard and evolving methods of meta-analysis. The methods include those for combining p-values, for analyzing general fixed-effects models, for analyzing contingency tables, and for analyzing count and continuous outcomes. For each general method, the authors present simplified formulas first, followed by more precise formulas when necessary. Similarly, both classic and Bayesian methods are presented where appropriate. Actual ex amples are used for methods. Key words: meta-analysis; Bayesian methods; information synthesis. (Med Decis Making 1995;15:81-96)