The impact of meta-analyses on clinical practice : the benefits

Meta-analises are frequently criticized because in most cases they are compiled from quite heterogeneous studies. In spite of this limitation meta-analises are increasingly published because in many areas of clinical research the results of indiidual studies are devoid of statistical power and end up with conflicting results. Meta-analyses, if performed with a rigorous and exhaustive search of all accountable information on a specific topic have the pontetial of overcoming the drawbacks of single studies and, in addition, of adjusting for pubblication bias and interstudy variability. These strengts of meta-analyses can be exploited to provide conclusive answers on diagnostic and therapeutic issue being debated, wich in turn may help guide doctors toward more rational decisions.