Which technique is used to combine results from multiple studies into a single estimate?

Which technique is used to combine results from multiple studies into a single estimate?

• A. Meta-analysis
• B. Systematic review
• C. Narrative review
• D. Case series

Answer: (A)

Pooling data from several studies into one overall estimate is meta-analysis. It uses statistical methods to combine effect sizes, weighting each study by its precision, to produce a single summary measure with a confidence interval and to assess consistency across studies. Systematic reviews identify and summarize all relevant studies on a topic and may include a meta-analysis if the data allow; narrative reviews provide qualitative descriptions without quantitative pooling; a case series reports observations from a group of patients and does not synthesize study results.

Pooling data from several studies into one overall estimate is meta-analysis. It uses statistical methods to combine effect sizes, weighting each study by its precision, to produce a single summary measure with a confidence interval and to assess consistency across studies. Systematic reviews identify and summarize all relevant studies on a topic and may include a meta-analysis if the data allow; narrative reviews provide qualitative descriptions without quantitative pooling; a case series reports observations from a group of patients and does not synthesize study results.