Abstract
Systematic reviews (SR) are a category of literature review that presents a comprehensive synthesis and analysis of all available literature evidence addressing a specific clinical question. Meta-analysis (MA) is a quantitative technique that is applied to data collected through SR that provides an estimate of an effect across a larger population. By synthesizing data from a large number of sources SR and MA often provide insights that cannot be obtained from single studies and can aid in clinical decision-making. However, these techniques are subject to important limitations. Both the validity and the usefulness of the results of an SR/MA depend on the methodological rigor used in preparing the review and the quality of included studies. In applying SR/MA to clinical decision-making the reader should be able to assess these features. Here we present an overview of important concepts in understanding SR and MA. We provide a general approach to interpretation and evaluation of an SR/MA, model the use of a critical appraisal tool for SR, and discuss the applications of SR and MA to clinical practice.
| Original language | English (US) |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 4209-4220 |
| Number of pages | 12 |
| Journal | Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology: In Practice |
| Volume | 9 |
| Issue number | 12 |
| DOIs | |
| State | Published - Dec 2021 |
Keywords
- Allergy-immunology
- Meta-analysis
- Systematic review
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Immunology and Allergy