A 7-Step Guideline for Qualitative Synthesis and Meta-Analysis of Observational Studies in Health Sciences

Marija Glisic; Peter Francis Raguindin; Armin Gemperli; Petek Eylul Taneri; Dante Jr Salvador; Trudy Voortman; Pedro Marques Vidal; Stefania I. Papatheodorou; Setor K. Kunutsor; Arjola Bano; John P.A. Ioannidis; Taulant Muka

doi:10.3389/phrs.2023.1605454

A 7-Step Guideline for Qualitative Synthesis and Meta-Analysis of Observational Studies in Health Sciences

Marija Glisic, Peter Francis Raguindin, Armin Gemperli, Petek Eylul Taneri, Dante Jr Salvador, Trudy Voortman, Pedro Marques Vidal, Stefania I. Papatheodorou, Setor K. Kunutsor, Arjola Bano, John P.A. Ioannidis, Taulant Muka^*

^*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journal › Review article › Academic › peer-review

13 Citations (Scopus)

14 Downloads (Pure)

Abstract

Objectives: To provide a step-by-step, easy-to-understand, practical guide for systematic review and meta-analysis of observational studies. Methods: A multidisciplinary team of researchers with extensive experience in observational studies and systematic review and meta-analysis was established. Previous guidelines in evidence synthesis were considered. Results: There is inherent variability in observational study design, population, and analysis, making evidence synthesis challenging. We provided a framework and discussed basic meta-analysis concepts to assist reviewers in making informed decisions. We also explained several statistical tools for dealing with heterogeneity, probing for bias, and interpreting findings. Finally, we briefly discussed issues and caveats for translating results into clinical and public health recommendations. Our guideline complements “A 24-step guide on how to design, conduct, and successfully publish a systematic review and meta-analysis in medical research” and addresses peculiarities for observational studies previously unexplored. Conclusion: We provided 7 steps to synthesize evidence from observational studies. We encourage medical and public health practitioners who answer important questions to systematically integrate evidence from observational studies and contribute evidence-based decision-making in health sciences.

Original language	English
Article number	1605454
Journal	Public Health Reviews
Volume	44
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.3389/phrs.2023.1605454
Publication status	Published - 16 May 2023

Bibliographical note

Funding Information:
PFR and DS received funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under the Marie Skłodowska-Curie grant agreement No. 801076, through the SSPH+ Global PhD Fellowship Programme in Public Health Sciences (GlobalP3HS) of the Swiss School of Public Health.

Publisher Copyright:
Copyright © 2023 Glisic, Raguindin, Gemperli, Taneri, Salvador, Voortman, Marques Vidal, Papatheodorou, Kunutsor, Bano, Ioannidis and Muka.

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

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A 7-Step Guideline for Qualitative Synthesis and Meta-Analysis of Observational Studies in Health SciencesFinal published version, 1.2 MBLicence: CC BY

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Glisic, M., Raguindin, P. F., Gemperli, A., Taneri, P. E., Salvador, D. J., Voortman, T., Marques Vidal, P., Papatheodorou, S. I., Kunutsor, S. K., Bano, A., Ioannidis, J. P. A., & Muka, T. (2023). A 7-Step Guideline for Qualitative Synthesis and Meta-Analysis of Observational Studies in Health Sciences. Public Health Reviews, 44, Article 1605454. https://doi.org/10.3389/phrs.2023.1605454

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abstract = "Objectives: To provide a step-by-step, easy-to-understand, practical guide for systematic review and meta-analysis of observational studies. Methods: A multidisciplinary team of researchers with extensive experience in observational studies and systematic review and meta-analysis was established. Previous guidelines in evidence synthesis were considered. Results: There is inherent variability in observational study design, population, and analysis, making evidence synthesis challenging. We provided a framework and discussed basic meta-analysis concepts to assist reviewers in making informed decisions. We also explained several statistical tools for dealing with heterogeneity, probing for bias, and interpreting findings. Finally, we briefly discussed issues and caveats for translating results into clinical and public health recommendations. Our guideline complements “A 24-step guide on how to design, conduct, and successfully publish a systematic review and meta-analysis in medical research” and addresses peculiarities for observational studies previously unexplored. Conclusion: We provided 7 steps to synthesize evidence from observational studies. We encourage medical and public health practitioners who answer important questions to systematically integrate evidence from observational studies and contribute evidence-based decision-making in health sciences.",

author = "Marija Glisic and Raguindin, {Peter Francis} and Armin Gemperli and Taneri, {Petek Eylul} and Salvador, {Dante Jr} and Trudy Voortman and {Marques Vidal}, Pedro and Papatheodorou, {Stefania I.} and Kunutsor, {Setor K.} and Arjola Bano and Ioannidis, {John P.A.} and Taulant Muka",

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AU - Raguindin, Peter Francis

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AU - Taneri, Petek Eylul

AU - Salvador, Dante Jr

AU - Voortman, Trudy

AU - Marques Vidal, Pedro

AU - Papatheodorou, Stefania I.

AU - Kunutsor, Setor K.

AU - Bano, Arjola

AU - Ioannidis, John P.A.

AU - Muka, Taulant

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PY - 2023/5/16

Y1 - 2023/5/16

N2 - Objectives: To provide a step-by-step, easy-to-understand, practical guide for systematic review and meta-analysis of observational studies. Methods: A multidisciplinary team of researchers with extensive experience in observational studies and systematic review and meta-analysis was established. Previous guidelines in evidence synthesis were considered. Results: There is inherent variability in observational study design, population, and analysis, making evidence synthesis challenging. We provided a framework and discussed basic meta-analysis concepts to assist reviewers in making informed decisions. We also explained several statistical tools for dealing with heterogeneity, probing for bias, and interpreting findings. Finally, we briefly discussed issues and caveats for translating results into clinical and public health recommendations. Our guideline complements “A 24-step guide on how to design, conduct, and successfully publish a systematic review and meta-analysis in medical research” and addresses peculiarities for observational studies previously unexplored. Conclusion: We provided 7 steps to synthesize evidence from observational studies. We encourage medical and public health practitioners who answer important questions to systematically integrate evidence from observational studies and contribute evidence-based decision-making in health sciences.

AB - Objectives: To provide a step-by-step, easy-to-understand, practical guide for systematic review and meta-analysis of observational studies. Methods: A multidisciplinary team of researchers with extensive experience in observational studies and systematic review and meta-analysis was established. Previous guidelines in evidence synthesis were considered. Results: There is inherent variability in observational study design, population, and analysis, making evidence synthesis challenging. We provided a framework and discussed basic meta-analysis concepts to assist reviewers in making informed decisions. We also explained several statistical tools for dealing with heterogeneity, probing for bias, and interpreting findings. Finally, we briefly discussed issues and caveats for translating results into clinical and public health recommendations. Our guideline complements “A 24-step guide on how to design, conduct, and successfully publish a systematic review and meta-analysis in medical research” and addresses peculiarities for observational studies previously unexplored. Conclusion: We provided 7 steps to synthesize evidence from observational studies. We encourage medical and public health practitioners who answer important questions to systematically integrate evidence from observational studies and contribute evidence-based decision-making in health sciences.

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A 7-Step Guideline for Qualitative Synthesis and Meta-Analysis of Observational Studies in Health Sciences

Abstract

Bibliographical note

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