Meta-Analysis: “. . . a statistical procedure that integrates the results of several independent studies, [and] plays a central role in evidence-based medicine” (Haidich, 2010).
Systematic Reviews: “. . . involve a detailed and comprehensive plan and search strategy derived a priori, with the goal of reducing bias by identifying, appraising, and synthesizing all relevant studies on a particular topic” (Uman, 2011).
Critically Appraised Topic: “CATs are short summaries of the most up-to-date, high-quality available evidence . . . found using thorough structured methods” (Callander, et. al., 2017).
Randomized Controlled Trials: “. . . the best way to study the safety and efficacy of new treatments” (Kabisch, et. al., 2011).
Cohort Studies: “. . . a group of people with defined characteristics who are followed up to determine incidence of, or mortality from, some specific disease” (Song & Chung, 2010).
Case-Controlled Studies/Case Series: “. . . Identify subject by outcome status as the outset of the investigation. . . . Data about exposure to a risk fact . . . [is] then collected retrospectively” (Song & Chung, 2010).
Works Cited
Callander, J., Anstey, A. V., Ingram, J. R., Limpens, J., Flohr, C., & Spuls, P. I. (2017). How to write a Critically Appraised Topic: Evidence to underpin routine clinical practice. The British Journal of Dermatology, 177(4), 1007–1013. https://doi.org/10.1111/bjd.15873
Haidich, A. B. (2010). Meta-analysis in medical research. Hippokratia, 14(Suppl 1), 29–37.
Kabisch, M., Ruckes, C., Seibert-Grafe, M., & Blettner, M. (2011). Randomized controlled trials: Part 17 of a series on evaluation of scientific publications. Deutsches Arzteblatt International, 108(39), 663–668. https://doi.org/10.3238/arztebl.2011.0663
Song, J. W., & Chung, K. C. (2010). Observational studies: Cohort and case-control studies. Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, 126(6), 2234–2242. https://doi.org/10.1097/PRS.0b013e3181f44abc
Uman, L. S. (2011). Systematic reviews and meta-analyses. Journal of the Canadian Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, 20(1), 57–59.