Methods for Meta–Analysis in Medical Research

Meta–analysis provides a framework for combining the results of several clinical trials and drawing inferences about the effectiveness of medical treatments. The move towards evidence–based health care and practice is underpinned by the use of meta–analysis. Meta–analysis methods play a crucial role in health research and have been developed substantially over the last five years.
∗ Provides a thorough criticism and an up–to–date survey of meta–analysis methods
∗ Emphasises the practical approach, and illustrates the methods by numerous examples
∗ Describes the use of Bayesian methods in meta–analysis
∗ Includes discussion of appropriate software for each analysis
∗ Includes numerous references to more advanced treatment of specialist topics
∗ Refers to software code used in the examples available on the authors′ Web site
Practising statisticians, statistically minded clinicians and health research professionals will benefit greatly from the clear presentation and numerous examples. Medical researchers will grasp the basic principles of meta–analysis, and learn how to apply the various methods.

Spis treści:
PART A: META–ANALYSIS METHODOLOGY: THE BASICS Introduction: Meta–analysis: Its Development and Uses Defining Outcome Measures used for Combining via Meta–analysis Random Effects Models for Combining Study Estimates Exploring Between Study Heterogeneity Publication Bias Study Quality Sensitivity Analysis Reporting the Results of a Meta–analysis Fixed Effects Methods for Combining Study Estimates PART B: ADVANCED AND SPECIALIZED META–ANALYSIS TOPICS Bayesian Methods in Meta–analysis Meta Regression Meta–analysis of Different Types of Data Incorporating Study Quality into a Meta–analysis Meta–analysis of Multiple and Correlated Outcome Measures Meta–analysis of Epidemio logical and other Observational Studies Generalised Synthesis of Evidence –
Combining Different Sources of Evidence Meta–analysis of Survival Data Cumulative Meta–analysis Miscellaneous and Developing Areas of Applications in Meta–Analysis Appendix I: Software Used for the Examples in this Book

Okładka tylna:
Meta–analysis provides a framework for combining the results of several clinical trials and drawing inferences about the effectiveness of medical treatments. The move towards evidence–based health care and practice is underpinned by the use of meta–analysis. Meta–analysis methods play a crucial role in health research and have been developed substantially over the last five years.
∗ Provides a thorough criticism and an up–to–date survey of meta–analysis methods
∗ Emphasises the practical approach, and illustrates the methods by numerous examples
∗ Describes the use of Bayesian methods in meta–analysis
∗ Includes discussion of appropriate software for each analysis
∗ Includes numerous references to more advanced treatment of specialist topics
∗ Refers to software code used in the examples available on the authors′ Web site
Practising statisticians, statistically minded clinicians and health research professionals will benefit greatly from the clear presentation and numerous examples. Medical researchers will grasp the basic principles of meta–analysis, and learn how to apply the various methods.