Synthesis of observational studies should consider credibility ceilings
Φόρτωση...
Ημερομηνία
Συγγραφείς
Salanti, G.
Ioannidis, J. P.
Τίτλος Εφημερίδας
Περιοδικό ISSN
Τίτλος τόμου
Εκδότης
Περίληψη
Τύπος
Είδος δημοσίευσης σε συνέδριο
Είδος περιοδικού
peer-reviewed
Είδος εκπαιδευτικού υλικού
Όνομα συνεδρίου
Όνομα περιοδικού
J Clin Epidemiol
Όνομα βιβλίου
Σειρά βιβλίου
Έκδοση βιβλίου
Συμπληρωματικός/δευτερεύων τίτλος
Περιγραφή
OBJECTIVE: Meta-analyses of observational studies often get spuriously precise results. We aimed to factor this skepticism in meta-analysis calculations. STUDY DESIGN AND SETTING: We developed a simple sensitivity analysis starting from the assumption that any single observational study cannot give us more than a maximum certainty c% (called credibility ceiling) that an effect is in a particular direction and not in the other. Each study included in meta-analysis is adjusted for different credibility ceilings c and the consistency of the conclusion examined. We applied the method in three meta-analyses of observational studies with nominally statistically significant summary effects (mortality with teaching versus nonteaching health care; risk of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma with hair dyes; mortality with omega-3 fatty acids). RESULTS: Between-study heterogeneity I(2) estimates dropped from 36%-72% without a ceiling effect to 0% with ceilings of 9%, 4%, and 4% in the three meta-analyses, respectively. Nominal statistical significance was lost with ceilings of 10%, 8%, and 11%, respectively. The likelihood ratios suggested that even with minimal ceiling effects, there was no strong support for the credibility of each of these three associations. CONCLUSIONS: Consideration of credibility ceilings allows conservative interpretation of observational evidence and can be applied routinely to meta-analyses of observational studies.
Περιγραφή
Λέξεις-κλειδιά
Algorithms, *Bias (Epidemiology), *Data Interpretation, Statistical, Fatty Acids, Omega-3/administration & dosage, Hair Dyes/adverse effects, Hospital Mortality, Hospitals, Teaching/statistics & numerical data, Humans, Likelihood Functions, Lymphoma, Non-Hodgkin/epidemiology, *Meta-Analysis as Topic, Research Design/standards, Risk
Θεματική κατηγορία
Παραπομπή
Σύνδεσμος
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19131013
http://ac.els-cdn.com/S089543560800259X/1-s2.0-S089543560800259X-main.pdf?_tid=6bb8950a584764dd6c01254f0b98148c&acdnat=1333018214_bed2bc124839b2a6f5e3288c1f830570
http://ac.els-cdn.com/S089543560800259X/1-s2.0-S089543560800259X-main.pdf?_tid=6bb8950a584764dd6c01254f0b98148c&acdnat=1333018214_bed2bc124839b2a6f5e3288c1f830570
Γλώσσα
en
Εκδίδον τμήμα/τομέας
Όνομα επιβλέποντος
Εξεταστική επιτροπή
Γενική Περιγραφή / Σχόλια
Ίδρυμα και Σχολή/Τμήμα του υποβάλλοντος
Πανεπιστήμιο Ιωαννίνων. Σχολή Επιστημών Υγείας. Τμήμα Ιατρικής