Cancer Clinical Trials pp 99-104 | Cite as
Limitations and Advantages of Meta-analysis in Clinical Trials
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Abstract
Meta-analysis has recently been applied to a variety of areas in medical research (Collins and Langman 1985; Himel et al. 1986; Collins et al. 1985; Tran and Welt- man 1985). By meta-analysis we mean a quantitative synthesis of data across several different but related studies. This usually entails the application of uniform methods of statistical analyses and/or data presentation. Reasons for performing a meta-analysis include confirmation of a general hypothesis by combining data from related studies, estimation of a general treatment effect by combining data from related studies, generation of hypotheses for further testing, and convincing others of a finding by presenting a systematic summary of all studies related to that finding.
Keywords
Average Treatment Effect Classical Hypothesis Public Health Decision Systematic Summary Adjuvant Therapy TrialPreview
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