To systematically search published studies, use various bibliographic databases like PubMed, Embase, The Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, Scopus, Web of Science, and Google Scholar. Specific databases like BIOSIS, CINAHL, PsycINFO, Sociological Abstracts, and EconLit can help identify additional articles and data. Read more @ https://pubrica.com/academy/meta-analysis/ten-basic-guidelines-for-conducting-and-publishing-a-meta-analysis/

1. TEN BASIC
GUIDELINES FOR
CONDUCTING AND
PUBLISHING A META-
ANALYSIS
An Academic presentation by
Dr. Nancy Agnes, Head, Technical Operations, Pubrica
Group: www.pubrica.com
Email: sales@pubrica.com

2. Introduction
• Meta-analysis is important in evidence-based medicine because it
combines information from numerous sources and brings new insights.
• Meta-analysis research has grown in popularity as the amount of
published scientific literature has increased. They are widely mentioned
in biomedical sciences.
• Meta-analysis methodologies and criteria have developed throughout
time. While there are several guidelines for certain types of meta-
analysis, researchers interested in generating meta-analysis want a
condensed piece containing general and up-to-date advice.
• This blog provides 10 straightforward guidelines for doing and publishing
meta-analyses.
To know more about Meta-Analysis Services, check our study guide. How to
do a meta-analysis for a manuscript?

3. Rule 1: Be specific about the meta-analysis's topic and
approach.
• A systematic review is crucial for meta-analysis, using the PICO model to formulate research
questions.
• Verify that no published meta-analysis on the specific topic to avoid duplication.
• Meta-analysis can be conducted for multiple types of studies, including epidemiological variables,
genetic association studies, gene expression studies, genome-wide association studies, and
animal experiments—Preregister systematic review protocols at PROSPERO to avoid duplication of
efforts.
contd...

4. Rule 2: Adhere to the available instructions for the various forms of meta-
analysis.
• General guidelines for meta-analysis include the Quality of
Reports of Meta-analyses of Randomized Controlled Trials
(QUORUM) and the Meta-analysis of Observational Studies
in Epidemiology (MOOSE) statements.
• The Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and
Meta-analysis (PRISMA) are widely used. Specific guidelines
for clinical, genetic association, genome-wide expression,
GWASs, and animal studies have been developed.
contd...

6. • Establish inclusion and exclusion criteria for studies, avoiding strict language or sample size
criteria.
• Clearly define variables extracted from each article. Broad inclusion criteria increase
heterogeneity, while narrow criteria can make it difficult to find studies.
• A compromise should be found, and prospective meta-analysis, typically conducted by
international consortia, offers the advantage of including individual-level data.
Rule 3: Identify the essential variables and establish the inclusion
criterion
contd...

7. • To systematically search published studies, use various bibliographic databases like PubMed, Embase,
The Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, Scopus, Web of Science, and Google Scholar.
• Specific databases like BIOSIS, CINAHL, PsycINFO, Sociological Abstracts, and EconLit can help identify
additional articles and data.
• The Web of Science database can identify publications with key articles. Adequate extraction and
recording of key data from primary articles is crucial for conducting a meta-analysis. Quality assessment
of included studies, such as the Jadad scale for randomized clinical trials, the Newcastle-Ottawa scale for
nonrandomized studies, and QUADAS-2 for diagnostic accuracy studies, is essential for determining
inclusion criteria, sensitivity analysis, and differential weighting.
• However, quality assessment has been criticized for reducing studies to a single "quality" score.
Rule 4: Conduct a systematic search across several databases and extract
important data.
contd...

8. Rule 5: Request missing data from primary article authors.
• Key data in primary articles is often unavailable, requiring
authors to contact them for missing information.
• Standards like MIAME and STREGA promote primary data
availability, but strict criteria and specialized permissions
may be needed in certain areas, like genetics, where
aggregated statistics can identify individuals.
contd...

9. • Comprehensive meta-analysis are useful for analyzing high-quality primary data for quantitative
summaries. However, analysts must be prepared for various transformations, such as extracting
and transforming continuous variables, 2 × 2 tables, or survival data.
• These analyses often use fixed-effects or random-effects statistical models, combining ranks or p-
values, or multivariate methods. Additional statistical examinations include sensitivity analyses,
metaregressions, subgroup analyses, and calculation of heterogeneity metrics.
• It is crucial to assess and explain possible sources of heterogeneity, identify sources of between-
studies variation, and quantify their impact on effect size.
• Publication bias, such as the "Proteus phenomenon" or "winner's curse," is important in certain
scientific fields, and cumulative meta-analysis is suggested to identify them.
Rule 6: Choose the best statistical models for your problem.
contd...

10. • Meta-analyses are available in various programs, including Stata and R, which can handle complex
analyses like network and gene expression studies.
• Stand-alone packages like OpenMetaAnalyst, NetworkAnalyst, JASP, MetaGenyo, Cochrane RevMan,
EpiSheet, GWAR, GWAMA, and METAL are available for general applications or specific areas.
However, some programs may present issues due to dependency on other packages.
Rule 7: Use software that is readily available to do meta statistics
contd...

11. • Meta-analyses should follow guidelines to ensure transparency and replicability.
• Data on search criteria, abstract screening, and included studies is useful, along with meta-
analytical strategies.
• Assessment of study quality is also important. A spreadsheet with step records can create flow
charts, improving the meta-analysis's quality.
• Records can be updated if needed, and stating limitations is crucial.
Rule 8: The study report and records must be thorough and open.
contd...

12. • A table with detailed information about included studies is useful in meta-analysis articles.
• It can be included in the main text or as a supplementary file.
• Reference software for meta-analyses and generate key graphs, including summary effect
measures.
• Include plots from sensitivity analyses for positive findings. In complex analyses, include scripts
used to generate results in supplementary files.
Rule 9: Give your manuscript adequate data.
contd...

13. • The Discussion section is crucial in a meta-analysis manuscript, as it helps authors discuss findings
in relation to existing literature and knowledge.
• It provides an interpretation of findings, comments on individual studies, and suggests future
primary studies based on available evidence.
Check our Meta-Analysis Service sample work to know and learn more about, A meta-analysis of the
relationship between Helicobacter Pylori infection and ABO blood groups.
Rule 10: Explain the context of your results and recommend the next steps
contd...

14. About Pubrica
• The team of researchers and writers at Pubrica
creates scientific and medical research articles that
may be a vital resource for practitioners and authors.
• By educating the reader about the flaws or gaps in the
chosen study field, Pubrica medical writers assist you in
writing and editing the introduction. Our specialists are
familiar with the format that moves from a broad topic,
problem, and background to a focused topic where the
hypothesis is stated.

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