Statistical methods in medical research
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Stat Methods Med Res · Oct 2001
Statistical methods for the meta-analysis of cluster randomization trials.
Cluster randomization trials have become a very attractive research strategy, particularly for the evaluation of health service interventions. The need to conduct meta-analyses of such trials is also becoming more common. ⋯ Statistical methods for constructing inferences for a summary intervention odds ratio include those based on Mantel-Haenszel procedures, the ratio estimator approach, Woolf procedures and generalized estimating equations using robust variance estimation. The advantages and disadvantages of each method are discussed in the context of an example.