Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland 21212, USA.
BMC Med. 2011 Jun 27;9:79. doi: 10.1186/1741-7015-9-79.
Network meta-analysis, in the context of a systematic review, is a meta-analysis in which multiple treatments (that is, three or more) are being compared using both direct comparisons of interventions within randomized controlled trials and indirect comparisons across trials based on a common comparator. To ensure validity of findings from network meta-analyses, the systematic review must be designed rigorously and conducted carefully. Aspects of designing and conducting a systematic review for network meta-analysis include defining the review question, specifying eligibility criteria, searching for and selecting studies, assessing risk of bias and quality of evidence, conducting a network meta-analysis, interpreting and reporting findings. This commentary summarizes the methodologic challenges and research opportunities for network meta-analysis relevant to each aspect of the systematic review process based on discussions at a network meta-analysis methodology meeting we hosted in May 2010 at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. Since this commentary reflects the discussion at that meeting, it is not intended to provide an overview of the field.
在系统评价的背景下，网络荟萃分析是一种元分析，其中使用随机对照试验内的直接比较以及基于共同对照物的试验间间接比较来比较多种治疗方法（即三种或更多种）。为了确保网络荟萃分析结果的有效性，系统评价必须经过严格设计和仔细实施。网络荟萃分析系统评价的设计和实施方面包括定义审查问题、指定资格标准、搜索和选择研究、评估偏倚风险和证据质量、进行网络荟萃分析、解释和报告结果。基于我们于 2010 年 5 月在约翰霍普金斯彭博公共卫生学院举办的网络荟萃分析方法会议上的讨论，本评论总结了与系统评价过程的每个方面相关的网络荟萃分析的方法学挑战和研究机会。由于本评论反映了该会议的讨论，因此并非旨在提供该领域的概述。
