Network Meta-Analysis for Decision-Making

This book provides a practical guide to network meta-analysis with examples and code, emphasizing rigorous methods for evaluating healthcare interventions. It adopts a comprehensive framework for mixed treatment comparisons and uses Bayesian Markov Chain Monte Carlo methods implemented in WinBUGS. Each chapter includes worked examples, exercises, solutions, and code for readers to apply to their own analyses. The book is suitable for beginners and experienced readers, covering introduction to evidence synthesis, network meta-analysis, model critique, and evidence consistency.

\n Format: Hardback
\n Length: 488 pages
\n Publication date: 09 March 2018
\n Publisher: John Wiley & Sons Inc
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In the realm of healthcare, where the quest for effective and cost-efficient interventions is paramount, rigorous quantitative assessment methods are indispensable. Often, a single study alone cannot provide conclusive answers, necessitating the synthesis of evidence from multiple sources, typically randomized controlled trials. This book takes a unique approach to evidence synthesis, tailored specifically for decision-making scenarios involving two or more treatment alternatives. It assumes that the ultimate goal of every synthesis is to answer the critical question: which treatment is the best for the pre-identified population of patients?

A comprehensive and coherent framework for network meta-analysis (mixed treatment comparisons) is adopted, utilizing Bayesian Markov Chain Monte Carlo methods implemented in the freely available software WinBUGS. Each chapter is packed with practical examples, exercises, solutions, and code that readers can adapt to their own analyses. This book serves as an excellent introduction to evidence synthesis and network meta-analysis, elucidating its key properties and policy implications. Furthermore, examples and advanced methods are presented to cater to the more experienced reader, enhancing their understanding of these powerful tools.

Throughout this book, consistent methods are employed, with a strong emphasis on model critique and evidence consistency checking. These methods are rooted in technical support documents produced for the NICE Decision Support Unit, which underpin the NICE Methods of Technology Appraisal. Additionally, the code presented serves as the foundation for the code utilized by the ISPOR Task Force on Indirect Comparisons.

To facilitate a seamless understanding of the concepts and techniques, extensive carefully worked examples are provided, accompanied by thorough explanations of how to set out data for use in WinBUGS and how to interpret the resulting output. By following these steps, readers will gain a deep appreciation for the power of network meta-analysis in informing healthcare decision-making.

\n Weight: 762g\n
Dimension: 234 x 159 x 28 (mm)\n
ISBN-13: 9781118647509\n \n