Systematic reviews as a tool for planning and interpreting trials

Bath, Philip M.W.; Gray, Laura J.

Abstract

Background Systematic reviews followed by ameta-analysis
are carried out in medical research to combine the results of two or more related studies. Stroke trials have struggled to show beneficial effects and meta-analysis should be used more widely throughout the research process to either speed up the development of useful interventions, or halt more quickly research with hazardous or ineffective interventions.

Summary of review. This review summarises the clinical research process and illustrates how and when systematic
reviews may be used throughout the development programme.
Meta-analyses should be performed after observational
studies, preclinical studies in experimental stroke, and
after phase I, II, and III clinical trials and phase IV clinical surveillance studies. Although meta-analyses most commonly work with summary data, they may be performed to assess relationships between variables (meta-regression) and, ideally, should utilise individual patient data. Meta-analysis techniques may alsoworkwith ordered categorical outcome data (ordinal meta-analysis) and be used to perform indirect comparisons where original trial data do not exist.

Conclusion Systematic review/meta-analyses are powerful
tools in medical research and should be used throughout
the development of all stroke and other interventions

Citation

Bath, P. M., & Gray, L. J. (2009). Systematic reviews as a tool for planning and interpreting trials. International Journal of Stroke, 4(1),

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Publication Date: Jan 1, 2009
• Deposit Date: Apr 23, 2009
• Publicly Available Date: Apr 23, 2009
• Journal: International Journal of Stroke
• Print ISSN: 1747-4930
• Electronic ISSN: 1747-4949
• Publisher: SAGE Publications
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 4
• Issue: 1
• Public URL: https://nottingham-repository.worktribe.com/output/1014165
• Publisher URL: http://www3.interscience.wiley.com/cgi-bin/fulltext/122196712/HTMLSTART
• Additional Information: The definitive version is available at: www.blackwell-synergy.com