The impact of meta-analyses on clinical practice: the benefits

Meta-analyses are frequently criticized because in most cases they are compiled from quite heterogeneous studies. In spite of this limitation meta-analyses are increasingly published because in many areas of clinical research the results of individual studies are devoid of statistical power and end up with conflicting results. Meta-analyses, if performed with a rigorous and exhaustive search of all accountable information on a specific topic, have the potential of overcoming the drawbacks of single studies and, in addition, of adjusting for publication bias and interstudy variability. These strengths of meta-analyses can be exploited to provide conclusive answers on diagnostic and therapeutic issues being debated, which in turn may help guide doctors toward more rational decisions.