Meta–analysis in Medical Research: The Handbook for the Understanding and Practice of Meta–analysis

Practical manual on how to undertake meta–analysis in medicine with accompanying CD ROM Over the last twenty years there has been a dramatic upsurge in the application of meta–analysis to medical research. This has mainly been due to greater emphasis on evidence–based medicine and the need for reliable summaries of the vast and expanding volume of clinical research. At the same time there have been great strides in the development and refinement of the associated statistical methodology. This book is a joint package of a practical manual on how to undertake meta–analysis in medicine together with an accompanying CD–ROM which contains a computer program ′Metanalysis′ to perform the statistical analyses for the meta–analysis. This package provides individuals with access to meta–analysis software and the instructions and guidance on how to undertake them. The software has some unique features currently not available in other meta–analysis software packages: ability to import graphics into Word, PowerPoint etc Galbraith′s plots cumulative meta–analysis number needed to treat publication bias assessment

Foreward. Preface. Introduction. How to plan a meta–analysis. Bias in the meta–analytical approach. Statistical procedures. Working procedures. How to read, evaluate and present a meta–analysis. How to use the program. References. Glossary. Index. The book is accompanied by a CD–ROM containing a software program called ′Metanalysis′ which allows the user to undertake meta–analysis themselves and produce statistical plots in a format compatible with Microsoft PowerPoint.

"The book′s real selling point is the Metanalysis program which can use odds ratios and absolute risk differences...There are nine different options for plotting graphs, and the program produces very neat Galbraith plots which can be difficult to create elsewhere... ...People wanting to use an easy program for meta–analysis or to revise the methods of meta–analysis could consider buying this book." – Royal Statistical Society, Series A, Vol 168(4) Oct 05. "This is a concise and easy–to–read book written by a clinician so it takes into account problems faced by non–statisticians when dealing with tools such as meta–analysis...I would recommend it to all statisticians or clinicians who aspire to be/are involved in clinical research. In addition, it will be a useful book for any health sciences library." – Journal of Applied Statistics, Vol. 33, No. 6, Jul 06 " The main selling point has to be the meta–analysis program supplied on CD... ...The program itself is easy to install and run... ...Recommend this handbook to those wanting a quick entry into the world of meta–analysis." – gut.bmj.com, Jun 07.