Meta‐analysis in context

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: To provide a detailed description of the concept, practice and relevance of meta-analysis. BACKGROUND: An increasing abundance of research contributes to a gap between research and clinical practice. The conduct of meta-analysis, when carried out appropriately, provides a means by which data may be summarised such that it provides important answers for practising clinicians pertaining to the strength and direction of the evidence base. DESIGN: A discursive design was adopted to encapsulate the current thinking regarding the use of meta-analysis. METHODS: A literature review approach was employed to provide a narrative summary of the subject of meta-analysis. Meta-analysis is a statistical procedure, which involves quantitatively pooling the data from a group of independent studies that have looked at the same or similar clinical problems, using the same or similar research methods. The data are then reanalysed to calculate a pooled estimate of effect and a confidence interval around this estimate. RESULTS: The findings from this review indicate that meta-analysis is a statistical procedure, which involves quantitatively pooling the data from a group of independent studies that have looked at the same or similar clinical problems, using the same or similar research methods. Correctly conducted, meta-analysis provides useful information for practice, identifying the strength and direction of the evidence base pertaining to important clinical problems. CONCLUSION: Meta-analysis is a useful means by which those in the clinical practice setting may clarify the evidence base surrounding a wide variety of clinical problems. RELEVANCE TO CLINICAL PRACTICE: The value of meta-analysis is that this information may be used to guide clinical practice decision-making and also to direct the development of future research strategies.