Meta-analysis in dental research

Lim,  Hoi-Jeong

doi:2014.52.8.478

J Korean Dent Assoc > Volume 52(8); 2014 > Article

The Journal of The Korean Dental Association 2014;52(8):478-490.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.22974/jkda.2014.52.8.004 Published online August 31, 2014.

치의학 분야에서의 메타 분석

임회정

전남대학교 치의학전문대학원 교정학교실, 치의학 연구소

Meta-analysis in dental research

Hoi-Jeong Lim

Department of Orthodontics, Chonnam National University School of Dentistry, Dental Science Research Institute

Abstract

Recently, importance of meta-analysis is increasing in the field of dentistry, since it is not easy to settle controversies arising from conflicting studies. Meta-analysis is the statistical method of combining results from two or more individual studies that have been done on the same topic. Merits of meta-analysis include an increase in power, an improvement in precision, and the ability to address solution not provided by individual studies. However, it might mislead researchers when variation across studies and publication bias are not carefully taken into consideration. The purpose of this study is to help understand meta-analysis by making use of individual results in dental research paper.

Key Words: Meta-analysis;systematic review;dental research;