Meta-analysis. A review of its place in therapeutic decision making.

The potential value of meta-analysis has captured the imagination of many investigators. Epidemiologists have, appropriately, greeted its broad application with considerable caution, yet practical matters, such as the need to consolidate and extract information from available data, have forced a more accepting approach. Meta-analysis has been employed in many clinical settings to evaluate efficacy and safety of a variety of therapeutic interventions. It is likely that it will continue to have a role in extrapolating data from clinical trials for use in the clinic.