The process of conducting a meta-analysis typically involves several steps:
Formulating the Research Question: Clearly define the clinical question, including the population, intervention, comparison, and outcome (PICO) criteria. Literature Search: Conduct a comprehensive search of relevant databases to identify eligible studies. Study Selection: Screen and select studies based on predefined inclusion and exclusion criteria. Data Extraction: Extract relevant data from the selected studies. Statistical Analysis: Use statistical methods to combine the data and assess the overall effect size. Interpretation and Reporting: Interpret the results and report the findings, including any potential biases and limitations.
