A comparison of meta-analytic results using literature vs individual patient data: paternal cell immunization for recurrent miscarriage
Article Abstract:
Meta-analysis results for medical research may differ depending on the source of information. Meta-analysis is a method that aims to limit bias while evaluating results from studies on a particular topic. Researchers compared meta-analysis of individual patient data (MAP) for 239 patients and meta-analysis of published medical literature data (MAL) for 209 patients, all of whom were women treated for recurrent miscarriage by using white blood cell immunization from the fathers. MAP was evaluated as a better meta-analysis approach, although MAL is generally used more in research. MAL showed greater treatment benefits than MAP, which may be attributed to publication bias, short-term follow up, and other factors. The effectiveness of immunotherapy for women in the studies could not be determined using meta-analysis.
Publication Name: JAMA, The Journal of the American Medical Association
Subject: Health
ISSN: 0098-7484
Year: 1995
User Contributions:
Comment about this article or add new information about this topic:
From science to practice: meta-analyses using individual patient data are needed
Article Abstract:
The differences in results of meta-analysis using individual patient data and data available from literature should not cause people to discount the merits of meta-analysis, but results should be evaluated carefully. Publication bias should be considered along with the beneficial outcomes that seem too good to be true. Treatments that show promising results are more likely to be published than those showing negative results. Meta-analysis may be more prone to statistical errors when based on small trials.Inflated results of treatments are often reported long before contradictory information. Clinical decisions are best made when based on a whole body of data.
Publication Name: JAMA, The Journal of the American Medical Association
Subject: Health
ISSN: 0098-7484
Year: 1995
User Contributions:
Comment about this article or add new information about this topic:
Accuracy of Data in Abstracts of Published Research Articles
Article Abstract:
Many author abstracts in medical articles contain data that conflicts with the text of the article or does not appear there at all. Author abstracts are often included in scientific articles to give readers a brief summary of the article. Researchers analyzed author abstracts in 88 articles from Annals of Internal Medicine, British Medical Journal, JAMA, Lancet, New England Journal of Medicine and the Canadian Medical Association Journal. In many cases, data in the author abstract did not appear in the actual article or the data in the abstract contradicted the data in the article.
Publication Name: JAMA, The Journal of the American Medical Association
Subject: Health
ISSN: 0098-7484
Year: 1999
User Contributions:
Comment about this article or add new information about this topic:
- Abstracts: Severe complications of measles requiring intensive care in infants and young children. Epidemiology, etiology, and clinical features of septic arthritis in children younger than 24 months
- Abstracts: Methods of and attitudes toward screening obstetrics and gynecology patients for domestic violence. The battered woman
- Abstracts: Mosaicism in chorionic villus sampling: an association with poor perinatal outcome
- Abstracts: The art of skinny dipping: to increase your flavor quotient and lower your cholesterol, stick your chip in this
- Abstracts: Gatekeeping revisited - protecting patients from overtreatment. Sex, access, and excess