Conducting proportional meta-analysis in different types of systematic reviews: a guide for synthesisers of evidence

🤖 Plain-English Summary

BACKGROUND: Single group data present unique challenges for synthesises of evidence. We provide worked examples of how proportional meta-analyses have been conducted in research syntheses previously and consider the methods, statistical considerations, and presentation of this technique.

🔑 Key Findings

• Proportional meta-analysis is becoming an increasingly common technique employed for the synthesis of single group data.
• Proportional meta-analysis shares many similarities with the conduct and reporting of comparative, or pairwise, meta-analysis.
• While robust and comprehensive methods exist detailing how researchers can conduct a meta-analysis that compares two (or more) groups against a common intervention, there is a scarcity of methodological guidance available to assist synthesisers of evidence in the conduct, interpretation, and importance of proportional meta-analysis in systematic reviews.

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