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Specific guide to this web site for:

 1.  Medical School
      Educators 
      in Statistics

 2.  Medical Students

 3.  Science media writers

 4.  High School & College
     Statistic Teachers

   Misadventures:

1. Harvard led MI study

2. JACC study 
   (J. of Amer. Coll.
   Cardio.)

3. NEJM cath study

4. Amer. J. of Cardio.
    review of literature

5. ALLHAT
    controversy 

6. Oat bran study

7. Pregnancy & Alcohol

8. Are Geminis really
    different?
      
9. Columbia 'Miracle' Study  
                                                 

Additional Topics:

Celebrex

Limitations of Meta-Analyses

Large Randomized Clinical Trials

Tale of Two Large
Trials

Advocate meta-analyses

Network meta-analyses

Limitations of Meta-Analyses (details)   A meta-analysis is subject to potential problems and pitfalls just as a clinical trial is subject to potential limitations.  Despite the perception by some that a meta-analysis is always the final word on a topic, a meta-analysis can result in incorrect or incomplete conclusions.

The Very Large Randomized Clinical Trial: Strengths and Weaknesses (details)  A very large randomized clinical trial is the gold standard for assessing the benefits of a medical treatment. Though large randomized trials have many strengths, this is not an inherent guarantee that a trial is constructed well or reaches appropriate conclusions.

A Tale of Two Large Trials (details)  The Heart Protection Study (HPS) is a superbly designed and interpreted large randomized clinical trial in contrast to the ALLHAT trial which is a large randomized trial which reached conclusions not proven by the trial data. 
    
Beware of Meta-analyses Bearing False Gifts (details)  Meta-analyses performed by strong advocates of a particular position in an ongoing controversy are particularly at risk for bias.

Network meta-analyses (details)  Network meta-analyses are more prone to unreliable conclusions. 

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