A Primer on Network Meta-Analysis for Dental Research. (21st June 2012)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Tu, Yu-Kang; Faggion, Clovis Mariano
• Other Names: Del Fabbro M. Academic Editor.; Perinetti G. Academic Editor.; Walters J. Academic Editor.; Ylöstalo P. Academic Editor.
• Is Part Of: ISRN dentistry. Volume 2012(2012)
• Publication Date: 2012-06-21
• Subjects: Dentistry -- Periodicals; 617.6
• DOI: 10.5402/2012/276520
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2090-4371

Abstract

Abstract : In the last decade, a new statistical methodology, namely, network meta-analysis, has been developed to address limitations in traditional pairwise meta-analysis. Network meta-analysis incorporates all available evidence into a general statistical framework for comparisons of all available treatments. A further development in the network meta-analysis is to use a Bayesian statistical approach, which provides a more flexible modelling framework to take into account heterogeneity in the evidence and complexity in the data structure. The aim of this paper is therefore to provide a nontechnical introduction to network meta-analysis for dental research community and raise the awareness of it. An example was used to demonstrate how to conduct a network meta-analysis and the differences between it and traditional meta-analysis. The statistical theory behind network meta-analysis is nevertheless complex, so we strongly encourage close collaboration between dental researchers and experienced statisticians when planning and conducting a network meta-analysis. The use of more sophisticated statistical approaches such as network meta-analysis will improve the efficiency in comparing the effectiveness between multiple treatments across a set of trials.