Context.—The extent of concordance between meta-analyses and large trials on the same
topic has been investigated with different protocols. Inconsistent conclusions created …

Background Meta-analyses are now widely used to provide evidence to support clinical
strategies. However, large randomized, controlled trials are considered the gold standard in …

When little or no data directly comparing two treatments are available, investigators often
rely on indirect comparisons from studies testing the treatments against a control or placebo …

Meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials combines information from independent
studies that address a similar question to provide more reliable estimates of treatment …

Evidence-based health care is becoming increasingly popular and, at least in some settings,
is being used to assist in the creation of health care policy. 1 Meta-analyses are a key …

The general methodology, strengths and weaknesses, and political uses of meta-analysis
are examined. As a systematic study of all studies that have been conducted to answer a …

OBJECTIVE: To assess whether nominally statistically significant effects in meta-analyses of
clinical trials are true and whether their magnitude is inflated. STUDY DESIGN AND …

Meta-analysis of clinical trials has assumed increasing importance in recent years as a
means of reaching conclusions regarding the safety and efficacy of treatments evaluated in …

Figure 1 Distinguished statistician Karl Pearson is seen as the first medical researcher to
use formal techniques to combine data from different studies studies are needed. For …

In following the practice of evidence-based medicine, when faced with a question about
prevention or treatment the clinician should seek out the best evidence that addresses the …