Synopses & Reviews
Meta-analysis, decision analysis, and cost-effectiveness analysis are the cornerstones of evidence-based medicine. These related quantitative methods have become essential tools in the formulation of clinical and public policy based on the synthesis of evidence. All three methods are taught with increasing frequency in medical schools and schools of public health and in health policy courses at the undergraduate and graduate level. This book is a lucid introduction, and will serve the needs of students taking introductory courses that cover these topics. It will also be useful to clinicians and policymakers who need to understand the quantitative underpinnings of the methods in order to best apply the information that derives from them. The second edition of this popular book adds new material on cumulative meta-analysis as a method to explore heterogeneity. The coverage of cost-effectiveness analysis has been brought into close alignment with recommendations of the U.S. Public Health Panel on Cost-Effectiveness Analysis in Health and Medicine. Many of the examples have been replaced with more current examples, and all of the material has been updated to reflect recent advances in the methods and the emergence of consensus about some previously controversial issues. analysis. These three closely related methods have become even more important for synthesizing research since the first edition was published in 1994. And they have gained legitimacy as tools for guiding health policy.
Synopsis
When formulating policy recommendations in medicine, the need for a synthesis of information to evaluate effectiveness and costs is irrefutable. This book describes meta-analysis, decision analysis, and cost-effectiveness analysis as conceptually related, quantitative methods for combining
information to arrive at a summary conclusion. The information derived from appropriate use of these methods would foster rational decision-making based on systematic use of the information we already have. The book describes how to design and conduct these three types of studies and how to
interpret their results. It presents sufficient detail on the practical aspects of the application of the methods so that even a novice could do a simple analysis knowing little more than what is in the book. Even those who do not plan to carry out these types of studies themselves will profit from
more detailed knowledge about how such studies are properly done. Policy-makers without direct research experience will learn how better to utilize data from the three types of studies taking into account their limitations, which are discussed fully.
Table of Contents
1. Introduction
2. Overview of the Methods
3. Planning the Study
4. Information Retrieval
5. Data Collection
6. Advanced Issues in Meta-Analysis
7. Statistical Methods in Meta-Analysis
8. Other Statistical Issues in Meta-Analysis
9. Complex Decision Problems
10. Estimating Probabilities
11. Utility Analysis
12. Advanced Cost Effectiveness Analysis
13. Utility and Cost-Utility Analysis
14. Exploring Heterogeneity
15. Sensitivity Analysis
16. Reporting Results
17. Limitations