Abstract
This fourth in a series of five articles on systematic reviews demonstrates how to compile and summarize the results of the studies included in a review. The synthesis of the extracted data consists of tabulating the characteristics, and the quality of the included studies, with the effects or the magnitude of the associations found in them. Statistical methods can be used to explore the differences between studies and the reasons for the inconsistencies. The magnitude of this heterogeneity influences whether it is feasible to perform an overall or subgroup meta-analysis. Finally, information is provided both to assessment of clinical and methodological reasons for heterogeneity.
Translated title of the contribution | Systematic reviews in five steps: IV. Summarizing the evidence |
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Original language | Spanish |
Journal | Medicina de Familia - SEMERGEN |
Early online date | 20 May 2022 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | E-pub ahead of print - 20 May 2022 |
Bibliographical note
Funding Information:Agradecemos a Daniel Gavilán Cabello su colaboración en la traducción de este artículo.
Publisher Copyright:
© 2022 Sociedad Española de Médicos de Atención Primaria (SEMERGEN)
Keywords
- Evidence summary
- Heterogeneity
- Meta-analysis
- Quality assessment
- Systematic review
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health
- Family Practice