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Meta-analysis and R software-based implementation based on median as effect size

Published on Aug. 21, 2020Total Views: 11124 timesTotal Downloads: 3940 timesDownloadMobile

Author: Qiao HUANG 1, 2 Joey S.W. KWONG 3 Tie-Jun TONG 4 Zhi MAO 5 Liang ZHENG 6 Hao CHEN 7 Xiao-Feng HE 8, 9 Sheng-Jie DONG 10 Chao ZHANG 11 Cheng-Feng QIU 12 Hong WENG 1 Yu-Liang GUI 1 Xue-Qun REN 13* Xian-Tao ZENG 1, 2, 14, 15*

Affiliation: 1. Center for Evidence-Based and Translational Medicine, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan 430071, China 2. Department of Evidence-Based Medicine and Clinical Epidemiology, The Second Clinical College of Wuhan University, Wuhan 430071, China 3. Global Health Nursing, Graduate School of Nursing Science, St. Luke's International University, Chuo-Ku, Tokyo 1040045, Japan 4. Department of Mathematics, Hong Kong Baptist University, Hong Kong 999077, China 5. Department of Critical Care Medicine, Chinese PLA General Hospital, 28 Fuxing Road, Beijing 100853, China 6. Research Center for Translational Medicine, Shanghai East Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200120, China 7. Department of Clinical Acupuncture Research, College of Acupuncture, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing 210029, China 8. Department of Science and Education Affiliated Heping Hospital, Changzhi Medical College, Changzhi 046000, Shanxi Province, China 9. Department of Teaching and Scientific research, the First Clinical College, Changzhi Medical College, Changzhi 046000, Shanxi Province, China 10. Department of Arthropathy, Yantaishan Hospital, Yantai 264001, Shandong Province, China 11. Center for Evidence-based Medicine, Taihe Hospital, Hubei University of Medicine, Shiyan 442000, Hubei Province, China 12. Evidence-based Medicine and Clinical Research Center, The First People’s Hospital of Huaihua, University of South China, Huaihua 418000, Hunan Province, China 13. Institutes of Evidence-Based Medicine and Knowledge Translation, Henan University, Kaifeng 475000, Henan Province, China 14. Division of Personnel Services, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan 430071, China 15. Global Health Institute, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430072, China

Keywords: Median Meta-analysis R software metamedian package

DOI: 10.12173/j.issn.1004-5511.2020.04.10

Reference: Huang Q, Kwong JSW, Tong TJ, Mao Z, Zheng L, Chen H, He XF, Dong SJ, Zhang C, Qiu CF, Weng H, Gui YL, Ren XQ, Zeng XT. Meta-analysis and R software-based implementation based on median as effect size[J]. Yixue Xinzhi Zazhi, 2020, 30(4): 265-271. DOI: 10.12173/j.issn.1004-5511.2020.04.10.[Article in Chinese]

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Abstract

The median is a descriptive statistic for continuous variable following abnormal distribution; hence, we aimed to explore the feasibility of meta-analysis based on median as effect size. Statistical basis and common implementation methods of meta-analysis using median as effect size are described and a metamedian package in R statistical software was applied to conduct meta-analysis and display of results based on median, heterogeneity in meta-analysis was also measured if suitable. This article provides another feasible solution to deal with median as effect size for meta-analysis.

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References

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