Meta-Analysis is extremely important because it is a quantitative, formal, epidemiological study design used to assess previous studies to conclude that body of research systematically. A meta-results analysis may include a more precise estimate of the effect of a treatment for the disease, or other outcomes, than any individual study that contributed to the pooled analysis. As shown in this Importance of Meta-Analysis diagram, examining variability or heterogeneity in study results is also a critical outcome. The advantages of meta-analysis include a consolidated and quantitative review of a large, often complex, seemingly contradictory body of literature. Specifying the outcome and hypotheses tested is critical to the success of meta-analyses.
