Have You Ever Meta-Analysis You Didn't Like?
Authors: Steven N. Goodman
Journal: Annals of Internal Medicine (1991)

Editorials1 February 1991Have You Ever Meta-Analysis You Didn't Like?Steven N. Goodman, MD, MHS, PhDSteven N. Goodman, MD, MHS, PhDAuthor, Article, and Disclosure Informationhttps://doi.org/10.7326/0003-4819-114-3-244 SectionsAboutPDF ToolsAdd to favoritesDownload CitationsTrack CitationsPermissions ShareFacebookTwitterLinkedInRedditEmail ExcerptThis issue includes a meta-analysis of the use of steroids in treating chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (1). Meta-analyses such as this one command our attention, both because they purport to provide a "definitive" answer to a clinical question that has eluded other researchers and because the work of those researchers, the grist for the meta-analytic mill, is often subject to embarrassingly intense scrutiny. They represent a new class of article, one that straddles the traditional boundaries between original research and review articles. Because meta-analysis is a relatively new and partially technical method, many physicians find themselves unable to appreciate the...References1. CallahanDittusKatz CRB. Oral steroids for patients with stable chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: a meta-analysis. Ann Intern Med. 1991;114:216-223. LinkGoogle Scholar2. Wachter K. Disturbed by meta-analysis? Science. 1988;241:1407-8. CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar3. Mann C. Meta-analysis in the breech. Science. 1990;249:476-80. CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar4. Meinert C. Meta-analysis: science or religion? Controlled Clin Trials. 1989;10:257S-63S. CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar5. Altman L. Meta-analysis. New York Times. 21 August 1990: Cl. Google Scholar6. Glass G. Primary, secondary and meta-analysis of research. Educational Research. 1976;5:3-9. CrossrefGoogle Scholar7. LightPillemer RD. Summing Up: The Science of Reviewing Research. Cambridge, Massachusetts: Harvard University Press; 1984. Google Scholar8. HedgesOlkin LI. Statistical Methods for Meta-Analysis. Orlando, Florida: Academic Press; 1985. Google Scholar9. Wolf F. Meta-analysis [Letter]. N Engl J Med. 1987;317:576. Google Scholar10. DickersinHigginsMeinert KKC. Identification of meta-analyses: the need for standard terminology. Controlled Clin Trials. 1990;11:52-66. CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar11. SacksBerrierReitman HJD. Meta-analyses of randomized controlled trials. N Engl J Med. 1987;316:450-5. CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar12. Greenland S. Quantitative methods in the review of epidemiologic literature. Epidemiol Rev. 1987;9:1-30. CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar13. DerSimonianLaird RN. Meta-analysis in clinical trials. Controlled Clin Trials. 1986;7:177-88. CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar14. RaudenbushBryk SA. Empirical Bayes meta-analysis. Educational Statistics. 1985;10:75-98. CrossrefGoogle Scholar This content is PDF only. To continue reading please click on the PDF icon. Author, Article, and Disclosure InformationAuthors: Steven N. 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