A practical introduction to the Meta-Analysis toolkit

Systematically synthesizing studies stands as a critical element in advancing knowledge and facilitating informed decision-making in public health practice, policy, and research. One important way to synthesize evidence is through meta-analysis. Meta-analysis is a statistical toolkit used to consolidate findings from multiple primary studies, allowing for a robust estimation of the pooled effect size and to assess the quantitative heterogeneity across available estimates. Thus, in this course, participants will learn how to conduct meta-analysis and interpret their results. Particular emphasis will be placed on meta-analytic methods to pool the quantitative evidence available, describing the different types of models available and how to assess quantitative heterogeneity (ie. variability of intervention effects across studies) including specific test of homogeneity, outlier detection, and meta-regression analysis. We will also examine methods to assess small studies effects, publication bias, and sensitivity analyses. We will learn how to interpret and report meta-analysis results including forest plots and graphical ways to detect small-study effects (publication bias). A basic introduction to the freely available software R will also be provided and used to perform meta-analysis and meta-regressions.

By the end of the course participants will:

• Know the basic methods of the meta-analytic toolkit;
• Be able to describe and interpret the results of meta-analysis;
• Be able to perform a full meta-analysis using R.

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Each participant should install on their laptop the freely available software R and its graphical interface RStudio to perform hands on meta-analysis.

R: https://www.r-project.org/

RStudio: https://posit.co/

This 3-day course is a mixture of theoretical lectures, hands-on tutorials and computer based exercises with presentations and feedback given.

In order to get the Certificate of completion and the 1 ECTS participants MUST:

• Attend at least 80%of the course;
• Attend the plenary(s) offered during the days of the course;
• Actively participate in the course.

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At least one facilitator will be on-site in Lugano, and some will join online. Participants are welcomed to join either on-site in Lugano, or online. In case of a change of regional policies (e.g., Covid) or personal reasons, the course could change to online. For those on-site, the course will take place at Università della Svizzera italiana (USI).