A review of methods for addressing components of interventions in meta-analysis

Many healthcare interventions are complex, consisting of multiple, possibly interacting, components. Several methodological articles addressing complex interventions in the meta-analytical context have been published. We hereby provide an overview of methods used to evaluate the effects of complex interventions with meta-analytical models. We summarized the methodology, highlighted new developments, and described the benefits, drawbacks, and potential challenges of each identified method. We expect meta-analytical methods focusing on components of several multicomponent interventions to become increasingly popular due to recently developed, easy-to-use, software tools that can be used to conduct the relevant analyses. The different meta-analytical methods are illustrated through two examples comparing psychotherapies for panic disorder.

Automated summary

The article provides an overview of methods for evaluating the effects of complex interventions with meta-analytical models, highlighting methodology, new developments, benefits, drawbacks, and potential challenges of each method. With the development of easy-to-use software tools, meta-analytical methods focusing on components of multicomponent interventions are expected to become more popular. Different meta-analytical methods are illustrated through examples comparing psychotherapies for panic disorder.