title: Interpreting and using meta-analysis in clinical practice.
abstract: Systematic reviews, which can include a meta-analysis, are considered the gold standard for determination of best practice. Meta-analysis combines the results from many primary studies to identify patterns among the individual study results and then assesses the overall effectiveness of a specific healthcare intervention. The purpose of this article was to describe the process of performing a meta-analysis, discuss advantages and disadvantages of meta-analyses, and interpret the results of a meta-analysis from current research relevant to orthopaedic nursing practice.
authors.affiliation: University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey School of Nursing, Newark, USA.
authors.forename: Cheryl
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Holly
authors.forename: Jason T
authors.initials: JT
authors.lastname: Slyer
mesh_terms: D004496:Education, Continuing; D016530:Orthopedic Nursing / Q000592:standards; D011183:Postoperative Complications; D000078329:Workforce