Meta-analyses and Forest plots using a microsoft excel spreadsheet: step-by-step guide focusing on descriptive data analysis.
Meta-analyses and Forest plots using a microsoft excel spreadsheet: step-by-step guide focusing on descriptive data analysis.
复制标题
DOI：
10.1186/1756-0500-5-52
复制
发表时间：
2012-01-20
影响因子：
1.8
通讯作者：
Moreira LB
中科院分区：
文献类型：
--
作者：
Neyeloff JL;Fuchs SC;Moreira LB
荟萃分析对于综合从初级研究中获得的数据是必要的，并且在许多情况下，观察性研究的回顾是唯一可用的选择。通用统计包可以对数据进行元分析，但通常需要外部宏或编码。商业专业软件是可用的，但可能很昂贵并且专注于特定类型的原始数据。大多数可用的软件在处理描述性数据方面都有局限性，并且发病率和患病率等汇总统计数据的图形显示并不令人满意。可以使用 Microsoft Excel 进行分析，但之前没有可用的指南。我们构建了一个分步指南，用于使用固定效应或随机效应模型在 Microsoft Excel 电子表格中执行荟萃分析。我们还开发了第二个电子表格，能够生成定制的森林图。仅使用 Microsoft Excel 即可进行荟萃分析。更重要的是，据我们所知，这是使用广泛使用的软件生成统计上足够但图形上吸引人的森林图来总结描述性数据的方法的第一个描述。
Meta-analyses are necessary to synthesize data obtained from primary research, and in many situations reviews of observational studies are the only available alternative. General purpose statistical packages can meta-analyze data, but usually require external macros or coding. Commercial specialist software is available, but may be expensive and focused in a particular type of primary data. Most available softwares have limitations in dealing with descriptive data, and the graphical display of summary statistics such as incidence and prevalence is unsatisfactory. Analyses can be conducted using Microsoft Excel, but there was no previous guide available. We constructed a step-by-step guide to perform a meta-analysis in a Microsoft Excel spreadsheet, using either fixed-effect or random-effects models. We have also developed a second spreadsheet capable of producing customized forest plots. It is possible to conduct a meta-analysis using only Microsoft Excel. More important, to our knowledge this is the first description of a method for producing a statistically adequate but graphically appealing forest plot summarizing descriptive data, using widely available software.