- #Besd comprehensive meta analysis update#
- #Besd comprehensive meta analysis software#
- #Besd comprehensive meta analysis trial#
The data are from 19 studies with a dichotomous outcome, like in the first data set. The third data set contains data as they could be found in meta-analyses of observational studies. It contains data from 11 studies with heterogeneous results. The second data set contains per-group data typically found in meta-analyses of controlled trials with a continuous outcome (group sizes, means, standard deviations). One of the 16 included studies has no events in one of the treatment arms and the data set itself is subject to substantial small study effects.
#Besd comprehensive meta analysis trial#
The first data set contains per-group data from 16 randomized controlled trial articles with a dichotomous outcome, i.e. These data sets have been used as examples in methodological meta-analysis publications and are representative of those commonly encountered in therapeutic or etiologic meta-analyses. In addition to the search for validation reports, two reviewers (LB, LMY) actively investigated the comparability of the numerical results with data sets from three previously published meta-analyses (Table (Table1). We also checked the website of each included program and made inquiries with its authors about their validation procedures. We searched the internet and literature databases of medical and social sciences (PubMed, EmBase, Eric, and PsychInfo) for articles that reported validations of meta-analysis software. Validity and comparability of meta-analysis results
#Besd comprehensive meta analysis software#
The software was purchased or downloaded if it appeared to fulfill the inclusion criteria. The first search was done mid 2005 and the last search in June 2006. Searches for software and publications related to their development and usage were done by two authors (LB, LMY) with combinations of the following keywords in Internet search engines of Google, Yahoo, AltaVista, and MSN: "meta-analysis", "meta-analyses", "systematic review", "software", "program", "package", "macro", "add-in", and "add-on". We also decided to select only software with a graphical interface and mouse-click compatibility, which essentially excluded the DOS programs.
#Besd comprehensive meta analysis update#
Furthermore, the software had to be actively maintained and supported, which was judged by either the time of the last software update (less than 5 years), bug report (less than 5 years), or website update (less than 3 years). General statistics packages were excluded. We decided, a priori, to focus on software that was solely dedicated to meta-analysis of randomized therapeutic or observational causal studies.
Therefore, the purpose of our study was to systematically compare features, results, and usability of the currently available meta-analysis software. We believe that information on the validity or comparability of results and ease-of-use are equally important factors in the total applicability of the software. Also, most of the existing reviews have focused on numerical features, such as which analytical models were available or what graphs could be produced. The most recent one, however, dates back to 5 years ago and in the meantime the spectrum of available software has changed substantially. To aid potential users in choosing the software that fits their needs, there are a number of reviews and comparisons available.
This paper focuses on this area of causal medical research and in particular the software that is being used in the corresponding meta-analyses.Ĭomputer software has become indispensable in meta-analysis and in the last decennia many programs have been developed. Although meta-analysis is applied in many types of research, the bulk of published meta-analyses are in the domain of therapeutic and – albeit to a lesser extent – observational etiologic studies. As the quantitative part of a systematic review, the merit of meta-analysis over qualitative approaches lies in the formal and reproducible investigation of heterogeneity, small study effects, and other data trends. However, time has taught – both opponents and proponents – that things are not black and white meta-analysis, executed with care, has become an important and influential cornerstone of scientific medicine. Meta-analysis has been characterized in various ways, from "making order of scientific chaos" to "mega-silliness", and has been subject of many debates.