Critical appraisal of meta-analyses: an introductory guide for the practicing surgeon

• Main Authors: McCall Jonathan, Lawrentschuk Nathan, Güller Ulrich
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: BMC 2009-07-01
• Series: Patient Safety in Surgery
• Online Access: http://www.pssjournal.com/content/3/1/16

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Meta-analyses are an essential tool of clinical research. Meta-analyses of individual randomized controlled trials frequently constitute the highest possible level of scientific evidence for a given research question and allow surgeons to rapidly gain a comprehensive understanding of an important clinical issue. Moreover, meta-analyses often serve as cornerstones for evidence-based surgery, treatment guidelines, and knowledge transfer. Given the importance of meta-analyses to the medical (and surgical) knowledge base, it is of cardinal importance that surgeons have a basic grasp of the principles that guide a high-quality meta-analysis, and be able to weigh objectively the advantages and potential pitfalls of this clinical research tool. Unfortunately, surgeons are often ill-prepared to successfully conduct, critically appraise, and correctly interpret meta-analyses. The objective of this educational review is to provide surgeons with a brief introductory overview of the knowledge and skills required for understanding and critically appraising surgical meta-analyses as well as assessing their implications for their own surgical practice.</p>