title: Meta-analysis: overview and application to clinical nursing practice.
abstract: If nursing practice is to benefit from the abundance of nursing research being conducted, a technique is needed to synthesize and integrate the results of individual studies. Meta-analysis, a quantitative approach to literature review, is such a technique. This article provides an overview of meta-analysis. Examples of published meta-analysis studies in obstetric and neonatal nursing are discussed to illustrate the clinical significance of this technique.
authors.affiliation: College of Nursing, University of Rhode Island, Kingston 02881-0814, USA.
authors.forename: C T
authors.initials: CT
authors.lastname: Beck
mesh_terms: D015400:Clinical Nursing Research / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D003627:Data Interpretation, Statistical; D015987:Effect Modifier, Epidemiologic; D015201:Meta-Analysis as Topic; D009034:Mother-Child Relations; D009769:Object Attachment