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Article
How to read and interpret the results of a Bayesian network meta-analysis: a short tutorial
Animal Health Research Reviews
  • Dapeng Hu, Iowa State University
  • Annette M. O’Connor, Iowa State University
  • Charlotte B. Winder, University of Guelph
  • Jan M. Sargeant, University of Guelph
  • Chong Wang, Iowa State University
Document Type
Article
Publication Version
Published Version
Publication Date
12-1-2019
DOI
10.1017/S1466252319000343
Abstract

In this manuscript we use realistic data to conduct a network meta-analysis using a Bayesian approach to analysis. The purpose of this manuscript is to explain, in lay terms, how to interpret the output of such an analysis. Many readers are familiar with the forest plot as an approach to presenting the results of a pairwise meta-analysis. However when presented with the results of network meta-analysis, which often does not include the forest plot, the output and results can be difficult to understand. Further, one of the advantages of Bayesian network meta-analyses is in the novel outputs such as treatment rankings and the probability distributions are more commonly presented for network meta-analysis. Our goal here is to provide a tutorial for how to read the outcome of network meta-analysis rather than how to conduct or assess the risk of bias in a network meta-analysis.

Comments

This article is published as Hu, D., A. M. O'Connor, C. B. Winder, J. M. Sargeant, and C. Wang. "How to read and interpret the results of a Bayesian network meta-analysis: a short tutorial." Animal Health Research Reviews 20, no. 2 (2019): 106-115. DOI: 10.1017/S1466252319000343. Posted with permission.

Creative Commons License
Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International
Copyright Owner
The Author(s)
Language
en
File Format
application/pdf
Citation Information
Dapeng Hu, Annette M. O’Connor, Charlotte B. Winder, Jan M. Sargeant, et al.. "How to read and interpret the results of a Bayesian network meta-analysis: a short tutorial" Animal Health Research Reviews Vol. 20 Iss. 2 (2019) p. 106 - 115
Available at: http://works.bepress.com/chong-wang/114/