Synthesis of observational studies should consider credibility ceilings
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Ημερομηνία
Συγγραφείς
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