MetaAnalysisOnline.com: Web-Based Tool for the Rapid Meta-Analysis of Clinical and Epidemiological Studies
Abstract
Background A meta-analysis is a quantitative, formal study design in epidemiology and clinical medicine that systematically integrates and quantitatively synthesizes findings from multiple independent studies. This approach not only enhances statistical power but also enables the exploration of effects across diverse populations and helps resolve controversies arising from conflicting studies. Objective This study aims to develop and implement a user-friendly tool for conducting meta-analyses, addressing the need for an accessible platform that simplifies the complex statistical procedures required for evidence synthesis while maintaining methodological rigor. Methods The platform available at MetaAnalysisOnline.com enables comprehensive meta-analyses through an intuitive web interface, requiring no programming expertise or command-line operations. The system accommodates diverse data types including binary (total and event numbers), continuous (mean and SD), and time-to-event data (hazard rates with CIs), while implementing both fixed-effect and random-effect models using established statistical approaches such as DerSimonian-Laird, Mantel-Haenszel, and inverse variance methods for effect size estimation and heterogeneity assessment. Results In addition to statistical tests, graphical representations including the forest plot, the funnel plot, and the z score plot can be drawn. A forest plot is highly effective in illustrating heterogeneity and pooled results. The risk of…
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Evidence Hub reads this as a meta-analysis, done in people. Its evidence level is 1 of 5 (Highest · pooled evidence). Pooled evidence from several studies sits at the top of the evidence pyramid. Reported size: 8,099 participants or records.
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