title: A sensitivity analysis framework for the treatment effect measure used in the meta-analysis of comparative binary data from randomised controlled trials.
abstract: The process of undertaking a meta-analysis involves a sequence of decisions, one of which is deciding which measure of treatment effect to use. In particular, for comparative binary data from randomised controlled trials, a wide variety of measures are available such as the odds ratio and the risk difference. It is often of interest to know whether important conclusions would have been substantively different if an alternative measure had been used. Here we develop a new type of sensitivity analysis that incorporates standard measures of treatment effect. Thus, rather than examining the implications of a variety of measures in an ad hoc manner, we can simultaneously examine an entire family of possibilities, including the odds ratio, the arcsine difference and the risk difference.
authors.affiliation: MRC Biostatistics Unit, Cambridge, UK. daniel.jackson@mrc-bsu.cam.ac.uk
authors.forename: Dan
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Jackson
authors.forename: Rose
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Baker
authors.forename: Jack
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Bowden
mesh_terms: D001026:Coronary Artery Bypass / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods; D003627:Data Interpretation, Statistical; D004232:Diuretics / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015201:Meta-Analysis as Topic; D016017:Odds Ratio; D011225:Pre-Eclampsia / Q000517:prevention & control; D011247:Pregnancy; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic / Q000379:methods*; D012306:Risk; D020521:Stroke / Q000209:etiology; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D004232:Diuretics