Meta-analysis in medical research: strong encouragement for higher quality in individual research efforts.
In this article, we counter some criticism regarding the desirability of performing meta-analysis in clinical research. These criticisms, we argue, are based mainly on current difficulties in deriving firm conclusions based on meta-analysis, resulting from poor methodology and reporting of primary studies. This is not a fault of meta-analysis. In fact, with a better understanding of meta-analysis in the context of the full scientific research process, meta-analysis is seen as a key element for improving individual research efforts and their reporting in the literature. This in turn will further enhance the role of meta-analysis in helping clinicians and policy makers answer clinical questions.
O'Rourke
K
K
Clinical Epidemiology Unit, Toronto Hospital, Ontario, Canada.
Detsky
A S
AS
D006801:Humans; D015201:Meta-Analysis as Topic; D012107:Research Design