This workshop is given on behalf of the Statistical Methods Group.

Workshop type: Training.

Objective: To provide review authors with the knowledge to recognise and address situations in which a simple meta-analysis may not be appropriate.

Summary:
Cochrane review authors frequently face data that do not apparently fit into the usual dichotomous or continuous data meta-analyses that can be performed by RevMan. Typical examples are: (i) study designs, such as cross-over trials or cluster-randomised trials; (ii) types of outcome data, such as time-to-event data, ordered categorical data or rates.

In this workshop we will review such ‘non-standard’ studies and data, and consider the possibilities for analysing individual studies and combining results in meta-analysis. RevMan offers a ‘generic inverse variance’ outcome type that can, in principle, be used to perform meta-analyses in all of these ‘non-standard’ situations.
 
 [The workshop is part of a series of five workshops on meta-analysis, but does not require attendance at any of the others in the series.]

Intended audience: (i) Review authors; (ii) editorial staff; (iii) methodologists.

Technical level expected of participants: Intermediate.