Systematic Reviews Flashcards
What do box and whisker plots on forest plots show?
Mean difference between intervention and control in each study, with 95% CIs
What is the diamond in forest plots?
Summary statistic for effect estimate
What is the line on a forest plot called?
Line of no effect
What does I squared indicate?
Heterogeneity across studies (100% is fully heterogeneous)
If the studies have high heterogeneity what does this mean for application?
Study is less generalisable so confidence in recommendations based on this study are reduced
What can heterogeneity be caused by?
Clinical differences between studies, methodological differences between studies, unknown study characteristics
What is heterogeneity?
Degree of inconsistency across studies that is not accountable by chance
