Network meta-analysis: application and practice using R software

다국어 초록 (Multilingual Abstract)

The objective of this study is to describe the general approaches to network meta-analysis that are available for quantitative data synthesis using R software. We conducted a network meta-analysis using two approaches: Bayesian and frequentist methods. The corresponding R packages were “gemtc” for the Bayesian approach and “netmeta” for the frequentist approach. In estimating a network meta-analysis model using a Bayesian framework, the “rjags” package is a common tool. “rjags” implements Markov chain Monte Carlo simulation with a graphical output. The estimated overall effect sizes, test for heterogeneity, moderator effects, and publication bias were reported using R software. The authors focus on two flexible models, Bayesian and frequentist, to determine overall effect sizes in network meta-analysis. This study focused on the practical methods of network meta-analysis rather than theoretical concepts, making the material easy to understand for Korean researchers who did not major in statistics. The authors hope that this study will help many Korean researchers to perform network meta-analyses and conduct related research more easily with R software.

목차 (Table of Contents)

• INTRODUCTION STATISTICAL APPROACH OF NETWORK META-ANALYSIS BAYESIAN NMA USING R “gemtc” PACKAGE FREQUENTIST NMA USING R “netmeta” PACKAGE COMPARISON OF NMA RESULTS: BAYESIAN VS. FREQUENTIST METHOD AND R VS. STATA SOFTWARE CONCLUSION SUPPLEMENTARY MATERIALS CONFLICT OF INTEREST ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS ORCID REFERENCES