Customer Reviews

Meta-Analysis in Medicine and Health Policy (Chapman & Hall/CRC Biostatistics Series)

5 star:		(1)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Dalene Stangl and Don Berry are two of the leading researchers on Bayesian methods and have made major contributions to medical applications. Here they have compiled a collection of excellent papers on recent research into the Bayesian approach to meta-analyses which now includes examination of heterogeneity through the use of random effects models. They contribute an introductory overview chapter and have compiled a number of very interesting state-of-the-art papers by leading researchers. Particularly interesting is the paper by Scott Berry (Don's son) who provides an analysis to show that controversy between meta-analyses and large clinical trials can be resolved through consideration of the study-to-study variability not considered in fixed effects analyses.
The text can be used for a modern course on Bayesian Meta Analysis. I just took a one-day short course from Dalene on this topic at the joint statistical meetings in Indianapolis. She gave an effective presentation using material from several of the papers in the book.