Bower Peter, Byford Sarah, Barber Julie, Beecham Jennifer, Simpson Sharon, Friedli Karin, Corney Roslyn, King Michael, Harvey Ian
National Primary Care Research and Development Centre, University of Manchester, Manchester M13 9PL.
BMJ. 2003 Jun 7;326(7401):1247-50. doi: 10.1136/bmj.326.7401.1247.
To assess the feasibility of overcoming sample size limitations in economic analyses of clinical trials through meta-analysis of data on individual patients from multiple trials.
Meta-analysis of individual patient data from trials of counselling in primary care compared with usual care by a general practitioner.
Primary care.
People with mental health problems.
Direct treatment costs, depressive symptoms, and cost effectiveness.
Meta-analysis of individual patient data proved feasible. The results showed that the previous analyses of individual trials were underpowered to provide useful conclusions about the cost comparisons. The results are sensitive to assumptions made about the costs of sessions with a counsellor and the management of patients by a general practitioner.
Meta-analysis of individual patient data may assist in overcoming sample size limitations in economic analyses. Although feasible, such analysis has shortcomings that may limit the validity of the results. The relative costs and benefits of this method, as opposed to further collection of primary data, are as yet unclear.
通过对来自多个试验的个体患者数据进行荟萃分析,评估克服临床试验经济分析中样本量限制的可行性。
对初级保健中咨询试验与全科医生常规护理的个体患者数据进行荟萃分析。
初级保健。
有心理健康问题的人。
直接治疗成本、抑郁症状和成本效益。
个体患者数据的荟萃分析证明是可行的。结果表明,之前对单个试验的分析未能提供足够的效力来得出关于成本比较的有用结论。结果对关于咨询师会诊成本和全科医生对患者管理的假设很敏感。
个体患者数据的荟萃分析可能有助于克服经济分析中的样本量限制。尽管可行,但这种分析存在可能限制结果有效性的缺点。与进一步收集原始数据相比,这种方法的相对成本和收益尚不清楚。