I might answer you that we use the term meta-analysis for the data synthesis
mostly coming from randomized controlled trials, with an application to
epidemiologic studies when a RCT is considered unethical such as the field of
risk factor assessment or in the assessment of diagnostic tests. We use the term
systematic review when other types of evidence is used such as economic or
appropriateness data. So, a systematic review is a broader approach to a
meta-analysis because it can provides to our assessment data at the highest
internal validity coming from RCTs or M-A and at a higher external validity
coming from the integration of randomized data and economic data, such as the
case of cost-effectiveness analysis and clinical decision analysis. I have
presented this views in the Scientific Basis for Health Care Meeting that took
place in Amsterdam in 1997 and I can share my presentation to those interested
in further discussion. Now is a good moment so I am preparing materials for next
year courses in M-A, CPGs and Systematic Reviews and feedback for the thought is
needed.
Albert J. Jovell
Andrew Jull escribió:
> Dear all
>
> I am interested in the term systematic review/overview and where it
> orginated from or who coined it. Until recently I had taken meta-analysis to
> be the statistical component of a systematic review, but reading Glass who
> coined the term meta-analysis, this would seem quite incorrect. The process
> Glass outlined for conducting a meta-analysis (i.e. clear question, search
> strategy, outcomes of interest, quality assessment of studies) is similar to
> that of systematic review. I had thought Mulrow might have used it in her
> 1987 article, but rereading that the terms systematic and review are used
> but not in juxtaposition. Can anybody enlighten me?
>
> Andrew Jull
> Clinical Nurse Consultant
> Auckland Hospital
> Private Bag 92024
> Auckland
> NEW ZEALAND
> Phone: +64 9 3797440
> Fax:+64 9 3072818 (external)
> 7718 (internal)
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