Journal
STATISTICS IN MEDICINE
Volume 28, Issue 2, Pages 338-348Publisher
JOHN WILEY & SONS LTD
DOI: 10.1002/sim.3487
Keywords
meta-analysis random effects model; quantile approximation method
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Funding
- UK Medical Research Council [U.1052.00.006, U.1052.00.001]
- MRC [MC_U105260558] Funding Source: UKRI
- Medical Research Council [MC_U105260558] Funding Source: researchfish
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The quantile approximation method has recently been proposed as a simple method for deriving confidence intervals for the treatment effect in a random effects meta-analysis. Although easily implemented, the quantiles used to construct intervals are derived front a single simulation study. Here it is shown that altering the study parameters, and in particular introducing changes to the distribution of the within-study variances, can have a dramatic impact on the resulting quantiles. This is further illustrated analytically by examining the scenario where all trials are assumed to be the same size. A more Cautious approach is therefore suggested, where the conventional standard normal quantile is used in the primary analysis, but where the use of alternative quantiles is also considered in a sensitivity analysis. Copyright (C) 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
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