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Evidence-based medicine, EBM

Evidence based medicine is the conscientious, explicit, and judicious use of current best evidence in making decisions about the care of individual patients.

Sackett et al., 1996, p. 71

Meta-analysis is particularly valuable in EBM. It is a statistical technique used to integrate the results of separate but similar studies, leading to a quantitative summary of the pooled results. Its process mainly includes: (1) comprehensively collect all relevant studies; (2) quality evaluation; (3) quantitative synthesis; (4) draw conclusions that follow research evidence; (5) write reports.

Module 1: Calculation and Conversion for effect measures

Data extraction is a critical yet meticulous step in meta-analysis. The original studies included may report results using varying effect measures or data formats, or may not follow the format required by common meta-analysis software. This necessitates converting the data into a standardized format for future meta-analysis.

Calculation and Conversion for continuous outcomes, such as

  • Coversion to standard deviation based on other information.
  • Conversion to mean difference (standardized mean difference) and standard deviation.
  • Conversion between different correlation coefficients (Pearson, Spearman, Kendall).

Calculation and Conversion for binary and time to event outcomes, such as

  • Calculation of single-arm proportion.
  • Calculation of OR, RR and RD
  • Calculation of measures for diagnostic accuracy test
  • Conversion among OR, RR and HR
  • Calculation of HR based on KM curve or other survival information

Module 2: Databases and standards for EBM

Registration platforms for evidence based study

  • Registration platforms for systematic review/Meta-analysis.
  • Registration platforms for clinical practice guidelines.

Literature Retrieval Databases

  • Commonly used literature databases.
  • Clinical practice guideline databases.

Assessment tools for methodological quality and reporting guides

  • Quality evaluation tools and reporting guides for different research types
  • Provding download links for these tools and guides