How to estimate the health benefits of additional research and changing clinical practice

A simple extension of standard metaanalysis can provide quantitative estimates of the potential health benefits of further research and of implementing the findings of existing research, which can help inform research prioritisation and efforts to change clinical practice Decisions about undertaking further research and at what point evidence should be implemented are important questions for research prioritisation and health policy. The results of standard metaanalysis can be extended to provide a quantitative assessment of the potential health benefits of gathering additional evidence and of implementing the findings in a way that consideration of statistical significance cannot. 1