Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Stepwise Approach for Medical and Biomedical Researchers

1st Edition - November 29, 2024
Imprint: Academic Press
Editors: Mahsa Ghajarzadeh, Sara Hanaei, Nima Rezaei
Language: English
Paperback ISBN:
9 7 8 - 0 - 4 4 3 - 1 3 4 2 8 - 9
eBook ISBN:
9 7 8 - 0 - 4 4 3 - 1 3 4 2 7 - 2

Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis: Stepwise Approach for Medical and Biomedical Researchers presents a step-by-step approach to develop systematic reviews and meta-a… Read more

Purchase options

World Book Day Celebration!

Save up to 30% on books and eBooks!

Shop now

Institutional subscription on ScienceDirect

Request a sales quote

Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis: Stepwise Approach for Medical and Biomedical Researchers presents a step-by-step approach to develop systematic reviews and meta-analysis for biomedical and medical research. Systematic reviews are the highest quality evidence in medical research, providing an answer to a specific question, and they can be developed in the form of comprehensive literature search, critical appraisal, and synthesis of the evidence. Systematic reviews and meta-analysis are key elements of evidence-based medicine by summarizing the results of previous studies with the use of specific and reliable methods.

Initially, systematic review and meta-analysis were exclusive to clinical trials, however systematic reviews of observational and diagnostic studies have expanded, making it essential for members of the field to master those techniques. This practical reference is a valuable resource for biostaticians, researchers, students, and members of medical and biomedical fields who need to understand more about systematic reviews and meta-analysis in their research work.

Title of Book
Cover image
Title page
Table of Contents
Copyright
Dedication
Contributors
Preface
Chapter 1. Medical research: Steps toward scientific advancement
Why did we write this book?
Chapter 2. Research methodology: Primary versus secondary studies
Introduction
Types of studies
Observational studies
Case reports/case series
Ecologic studies
Cross-sectional studies
Case-control studies
Strengths of a case-control study
Limitations of case-control studies
Cohort studies
Prospective cohort studies
Retrospective cohort studies
Strengths of cohort studies
Limitations of cohort studies
Interventional studies
Advantages of RCTs
Disadvantages
Secondary studies
Narrative reviews
Chapter 3. Why do we need systematic reviews?
Conclusions
Chapter 4. Registering the protocol and structure the question
What is prospective register of systematic reviews [2]?
All sections with an asterisk are mandatory
Chapter 5. Systematic search for a systematic review
Introduction
What is a scoping search?
How should we do a scoping search?
What is syntax?
Search sources
Bibliographic databases
MEDLINE
Embase
Scopus
Web of Science
Grey literature
MeSH terms in PubMed
Exact phrases
Tags
PubMed
Embase
Scopus
Web of Science
Operators
PubMed syntax
Inclusive search strategy for PubMed
Embase search strategy
Scopus search strategy
Web of science strategy
Summary
Chapter 6. Search record screening
Introduction
Exporting search results
PubMed
Embase
Scopus
Web of Science
Merging search records
Screening process
Screening softwares
Chapter 7. Data extraction
Introduction
Step 1: Develop a data extraction form
Step 2: Collaborative oversight
Step 3: Data extraction by two independent reviewers and quality checks
Step 4: Document the data extraction process
Conclusion
Chapter 8. Assessment of risk of bias in included studies
Types of quality assessment tools
Introduction
Jadad scale
Cochrane Risk of Bias Tool
Risk of bias assessment using the ROBINS-I tool
Overview of the ROBINS-I tool
Domains and questions of the ROBINS-I tool
Overall risk of bias rating
Conclusion
QUADAS-2
Joanna Briggs Institute
JBI critical appraisal checklist for analytical cross-sectional studies
JBI critical appraisal checklist for case-control studies
JBI instrument could be used to evaluate the quality of case-control studies, including the following items
JBI critical appraisal checklist for case reports
JBI critical appraisal checklist for case series
JBI Critical Appraisal Checklist for Cohort Studies
Newcastle–Ottawa Scale (NOS)
NOS critical appraisal for cross-sectional studies
Chapter 9. Data synthesis
What is data synthesis
What is meta-analysis and why it is useful?
How meta-analysis may help us?
Types of data
Heterogeneity
Heterogeneity will be discussed in details in Chapter 13
Two statistical models are commonly used for meta-analysis
0Summary estimates
Odds ratio (OR)
Risk ratio (RR)
Risk difference (RD)
Continuous data
Mean difference (MD)
Standardized mean difference (SMD)
Important notes
Chapter 10. Performing meta-analysis in different softwares
STATA
Pooling standardized mean differences (SMDs)
Pooling odds ratios (ORs)
Pooling ORs/RRs using original data
Doing meta-analysis in R software
Pooling ORs/RRs in R
Meta-analysis using RevMan
Meta-analysis using SPSS (statistical package for the social sciences)
Chapter 11. Interpretation of results in the forest plot
What is a forest plot?
Chapter 12. Publication bias and funnel plot
Introduction
Publication bias is one of the main threats of meta-analyses
Why publication bias happens?
Importance of publication bias
Assessment of publication bias in meta-analyses
Funnel plot
Begg's adjusted rank correlation test
Trim and fill method
Funnel plot for standardized mean difference (SMD)
Chapter 13. Heterogeneity among included studies
Why measure heterogeneity in meta-analysis?
How to measure heterogeneity in meta-analysis?
Introduction
What is heterogeneity?
Heterogeneity in a primary study
Heterogeneity in a meta-analysis
Identifying and quantifying heterogeneity
Cochran's Q
The excess variation
Ratio of observed to expected variation
Detecting heterogeneity
I2
Tau square (Tau2)
Methodological options to explore heterogeneity
Subgroup analysis
Meta-regression to explain heterogeneity
Dealing with heterogeneity
Choosing between fixed and random effects models
Chapter 14. Missing data in systematic reviews
Chapter 15. Network meta-analysis
What is network meta-analysis?
Steps of conducting NMA
The first step is defining the review question and eligibility criteria
Sensitive and comprehensive search
Data extraction and abstracting data of included studies
Qualitative evidence synthesis
Quantitative synthesis
Interpret results and draw conclusions
Report findings
Chapter 16. Quality assessment of systematic reviews
Q. 1: Did the research questions and inclusion criteria for the review include the components of PICO?
Q. 2: Did the report of the review contain an explicit statement that the review methods were established prior to the conduct of the review and did the report justify any significant deviations from the protocol?
Protocols: The blueprint for methodological rigor
Why it matters: Upholding trust and reliability
Q. 3: Did the review authors explain their selection of the study designs for inclusion in the review?
Q. 4: Did the review authors use a comprehensive literature search strategy?
Q. 5: Did the review authors perform study selection in duplicate?
Q. 6: Did the review authors perform data extraction in duplicate?
Q. 7: Did the review authors provide a list of excluded studies and justify the exclusions?
Q. 8: Did the review authors describe the included studies in adequate detail?
Q. 9: Did the review authors use a satisfactory technique for assessing the risk of bias (RoB) in individual studies that were included in the review?
Q. 10: Did the review authors report on the sources of funding for the studies included in the review?
Q. 11: If meta-analysis was performed did the review authors use appropriate methods for statistical combination of results?
Q. 12: If meta-analysis was performed, did the review authors assess the potential impact of RoB in individual studies on the results of the meta-analysis or other evidence synthesis?
Q. 13: Did the review authors account for RoB in individual studies when interpreting/discussing the results of the review?
Q. 14: Did the review authors provide a satisfactory explanation for, and discussion of, any heterogeneity observed in the results of the review?
Q. 15: If they performed quantitative synthesis did the review authors carry out an adequate investigation of publication bias (small study bias) and discuss its likely impact on the results of the review?
Q. 16: Did the review authors report any potential sources of conflict of interest, including any funding they received for conducting the review?
The need for openness and honesty
Empowering readers with critical awareness
Upholding the standards of ethical conduct
Chapter 17. Scientific writing in a systematic review and Meta-Analyses
Introduction
Rational
Objectives
Methods
Eligibility criteria
Information resources
Search strategy
Data collection process
Data items
Assessing the risk of bias
Effect measures
Data synthesis methods
Results
Study selection
Characteristics of the study
Results of individual studies
Report of bias in synthesis
Certainty of evidence
Discussion
Other information
Support
Competing interests
Chapter 18. Ethics in systematic reviews
Introduction
Randomized control trials (RCTs)
Conclusions
Index

Mahsa Ghajarzadeh

Mahsa Ghajarzadeh is an expert epidemiologist who earned her degrees (MD, M.p.H, and Ph.D of epidemiology) from Tehran University of Medical Sciences, and continued her research as a postdoc at Johns Hopkins University. She has great experience in medical research and research education for junior students. She has also published several research papers on systematic reviews and meta-analyses.

Affiliations and expertise

Epidemiologist and Assistant Professor of epidemiology, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Iran

Sara Hanaei

Dr. Sara Hanaei started medicine at TUMS in 2010 and a Master of Public Health (MPH) in 2014. She graduated with MD-MPH in 2018. She also received TUMS Research Diploma (TUMS-RD) in a 2-year study period from 2013-2015. She was a research assistant at the Research Center for Immunodeficiencies (RCID) from 2018-2021 and further continued neurosurgery as a clinical specialty at TUMS in 2021. She has experience in teaching research skills to students. Medical research was one of her greatest interests since the beginning of her academic education, especially in Neurosurgery and Immunology, therefore, she started research in those fields. Over the past decade, she contributed to different research projects, books, and other research activities including instructing research workshops in statistics, systematic reviews, and meta-analysis. She also got involved in executive tasks and developed executive skills in organizing scientific events, congresses, festivals, scoring, rankings, etc. She also co-edited a 2-volume book: - Human Brain and Spinal Cord Tumors: From Bench to Bedside. Volume 1 (Neuroimmunology and Neurogenetics) - Human Brain and Spinal Cord Tumors: From Bench to Bedside. Volume 2 (The Path to Bedside Management). In early 2024, she co-founded Borderless Research, Advancement, and Innovation in Neuroscience Network (BRAINet), which was intended to serve in a multidisciplinary and cross-disciplinary manner and embrace all aspects of neuroscience. On this account, different disciplines in neuroscience may come together in the BRAINet including theoretical and molecular neuroscience, clinical neuroscience (neurology), surgical neuroscience (neurosurgery), and social neuroscience. In the light of the borderless collaboration of seniors and juniors, it is provisioned to promote scientific activities and step forward to advancement and innovation in neuroscience.

Affiliations and expertise

Department of Neurosurgery, Imam Khomeini Hospital Complex (IKHC), Tehran University of Medical Sciences (TUMS); Borderless Research, Advancement and Innovation in Neuroscience Network (BRAINet), Tehran, Iran

Nima Rezaei

Professor Nima Rezaei gained his medical degree (MD) from Tehran University of Medical Sciences and subsequently obtained an MSc in Molecular and Genetic Medicine and a PhD in Clinical Immunology and Human Genetics from the University of Sheffield, UK. He also spent a short-term fellowship of Pediatric Clinical Immunology and Bone Marrow Transplantation in the Newcastle General Hospital. Professor Rezaei is now the Full Professor of Immunology and Vice Dean of Research, School of Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, and the co-founder and Head of the Research Center for Immunodeficiencies. He is also the founding President of the Universal Scientific Education and Research Network (USERN). Professor Rezaei has already been the Director of more than 55 research projects and has designed and participated in several international collaborative projects. Professor Rezaei is an editorial assistant or board member for more than 30 international journals. He has edited more than 35 international books, has presented more than 500 lectures/posters in congresses/meetings, and has published more than 1,000 scientific papers in the international journals.

Affiliations and expertise

Professor, Department of Immunology, School of Medicine; Head, Research Center for Immunodeficiencies, Children’s Medical Center, Tehran University of Medical Sciences; Founding President, Network of Immunity in Infection, Malignancy and Autoimmunity (NIIMA),Universal Scientific Education and Research Network (USERN),Tehran, Iran

Life Sciences

Physical Sciences & Engineering

Social Sciences & Humanities

Health

Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Stepwise Approach for Medical and Biomedical Researchers

Purchase options

World Book Day Celebration!

Institutional subscription on ScienceDirect

Mahsa Ghajarzadeh

Sara Hanaei

Nima Rezaei

Related books