Going into detail on what this term means and how it relates to health guidelines. This article may be incomplete.
Meta-analysis is a powerful statistical tool that integrates the results from multiple individual studies to provide a more robust and precise estimate of the true effect size or outcome related to a particular research question. By combining data from different studies, researchers can increase the statistical power of their analysis, detect small but significant effects that may not be apparent in any single study, and achieve a more comprehensive understanding of the topic under investigation.
The process of conducting a meta-analysis begins with a systematic review, where researchers meticulously identify, select, and evaluate all relevant studies that meet predefined inclusion criteria. This rigorous approach helps to minimize bias and ensures that all available evidence is considered in the analysis. Through the application of statistical techniques, such as weighted averaging and effect size calculations, meta-analysis provides a quantitative synthesis of the collective findings from individual studies, offering a more reliable assessment of the overall effect size, association strengths, or prevalence rates within the scope of the research question.