The impact of study size on meta-analyses: examination of underpowered studies in Cochrane reviews

Rebecca M Turner; Sheila M Bird; Julian P T Higgins

doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0059202

The impact of study size on meta-analyses: examination of underpowered studies in Cochrane reviews

Rebecca M Turner, Sheila M Bird, Julian P T Higgins

Centre for Reviews and Dissemination

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

Abstract

Most meta-analyses include data from one or more small studies that, individually, do not have power to detect an intervention effect. The relative influence of adequately powered and underpowered studies in published meta-analyses has not previously been explored. We examine the distribution of power available in studies within meta-analyses published in Cochrane reviews, and investigate the impact of underpowered studies on meta-analysis results.

Original language	English
Article number	e59202
Pages (from-to)	e59202
Journal	PLoS ONE
Volume	8
Issue number	3
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0059202
Publication status	Published - 27 Mar 2013

Keywords

Humans
Meta-Analysis as Topic
Odds Ratio
Review Literature as Topic
Risk Reduction Behavior
Sample Size

Access to Document

10.1371/journal.pone.0059202

Cite this

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