A 4 part lecture series on the basics of Systematic Review and Meta-analysis, Part 3 discusses the software needed and analytical techniques used for this purpose.

1. Basics of Systematic Review and
Meta-analysis
Part 3: Statistical software and analysis
Dr. S. A. Rizwan, M.D.,
Department of Community Medicine,
Velammal Medical College Hospital and Research Institute,
Madurai.

2. Software names
• Comprehensive meta-analysis
• Stats direct
• STATA macros
• SAS, R
• RevMan
• Meta-Analysis Add-In for Microsoft Excel
• Forest plot viewer

3. Software
• Learn one that best suits you and your
objective
• Can use a combination

4. Types of analyses
• Main or primary analysis
– The main objective of the paper
– Pooled estimate of effect size
• Secondary analysis
– Subgroup analysis
• To see if effects are different across interest groups
• Need to have sufficient sample
– Sensitivity analysis
• To see if estimates change by changing some parameters like
excluding low quality studies
– Meta-regression
• Publication bias analysis

5. Random vs. fixed effects
• If you expect that the effect size from each
study arises from a different population then
use random effects
• Random effects model is more likely to give
non-significant estimates

6. Primary and sub group analyses

7. Sensitivity analyses

8. Publication bias

9. Forest plot

10. Points to remember
• Double check all estimates and analysis
• Make sure that the results are in line with
existing knowledge
• Try to explain abnormalities

11. THANK YOU