Foundation of evidence-based decision making for health care managers-part II: meta-analysis and applying the evidence

Health Care Manag (Frederick). 2014 Jul-Sep;33(3):230-44. doi: 10.1097/HCM.0000000000000016.

Abstract

This article is a continuation of a 2-part series that seeks to build the skills of health care managers and supervisors in critically reading and interpreting systematic reviews and meta-analyses. The first article, part I, defined the types of systematic reviews and outlined the process of conducting them. This article, part II, focuses on meta-analysis, a type of systematic review. This article explains the additional procedures associated with meta-analyses and describes the potential shortcomings of both systematic reviews and meta-analyses. Finally, this article provides a way for health care managers and supervisors to appraise systematic reviews and meta-analyses and to determine whether the evidence applies to their problems and settings.

MeSH terms

  • Data Interpretation, Statistical*
  • Decision Making, Organizational
  • Evidence-Based Practice / methods*
  • Health Facility Administration*
  • Humans
  • Meta-Analysis as Topic*
  • Review Literature as Topic