This meta-analysis was interested in determining whether obesity affects the outcome of spinal surgery. Clinical Neurology and Neurosurgery, 177, 27-36. Impact of obesity on outcomes following lumbar spine surgery: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Goyal, A., Elminawy, M., Kerezoudis, P., Lu, V., Yolcu, Y., Alvi, M., & Bydon, M. This meta-analysis showed a 50% reduction in melanoma diagnosis among sunscreen-wearers. The subjects from all eight studies (total: 860 subjects) were pooled and statistically analyzed to determine the effect of the relationship between wearing sunscreen and melanoma. All of the studies showed a positive effect between wearing sunscreen and reducing the likelihood of melanoma. The analysis should include published and unpublished results to avoid publication bias.ĭoes the meta-analysis include any appropriate relevant studies that may have had negative outcomes?ĭo individuals who wear sunscreen have fewer cases of melanoma than those who do not wear sunscreen? A MEDLINE search was conducted using the terms melanoma, sunscreening agents, and zinc oxide, resulting in 8 randomized controlled studies, each with between 100 and 120 subjects. all randomized controlled trials).Īre the studies being reviewed all the same type of study or are they a mixture of different types? The studies pooled for review should be similar in type (i.e. Requires advanced statistical techniques.Not all studies provide adequate data for inclusion and analysis.Difficult and time consuming to identify appropriate studies.Greater ability to extrapolate to general population affected.

If the individual studies utilized randomized controlled trials (RCT), combining several selected RCT results would be the highest-level of evidence on the evidence hierarchy, followed by systematic reviews, which analyze all available studies on a topic.

To examine subgroups with individual numbers that are not statistically significant.

To provide a more complex analysis of harms, safety data, and benefits.

To develop a more correct estimate of effect magnitude.

To establish statistical significance with studies that have conflicting results.

Meta-analysis would be used for the following purposes: This conclusion is statistically stronger than the analysis of any single study, due to increased numbers of subjects, greater diversity among subjects, or accumulated effects and results.

A subset of systematic reviews a method for systematically combining pertinent qualitative and quantitative study data from several selected studies to develop a single conclusion that has greater statistical power.

Meta definition