44
RevMan 5 User Guide
46
• Test for subgroup differences.
When 'Totals and subtotals' is selected the test is always expected to be valid, and cannot be
turned off . When 'Subtotals only' is selected the subgroups might not be actual subgroups but
different analyses (e.g. different comparisons), so in you may wean to switch off the test. When
'No totals' is selected the test is not valid because it is using the totals in the calculations.
• Swap event and non-event.
• Entered data are on log scale (generic inverse variance only).
Ratio measures such as odds ratios, risk ratios and hazard ratios should be entered as ln(effect
size) and SE[ln(effect size)]. Non-ratio measures such as mean differences and risk differences
should be entered in their original metric. The data entered will be used in the meta-analysis.
However, when the results are presented, the ratio measures will be converted to their original
metric (odds ratio etc.) and the information entered here will determine whether this happens.
• Enter number of participants (generic inverse variance, for display only).
Select this check box if you want to enter the number of participants in the two compared groups
into the data table. These data are provided for display purposes only and are not used in the
meta-analysis.
Graph options
Left Graph Label, Right Graph Label are used beneath the analysis graph. The defaults are 'Favours
[experimental]', and 'Favours [control]'. These must be modified to accurately reflect the intervention and
control. You can edit the labels for an individual outcome on the outcome properties, but you can also
change the labels used in all outcomes for a comparison, see Comparison properties.
Tip: Remember to reverse the labels if the outcome is positive.
You can use the Scale option to set the graph scale to any numerical value. You can also modify the scale
by using the slider beneath the graph, see Analysis graphs.
You can choose the order in which the studies appear by using the Sort by option. If you choose User
Defined order, you can use the Move up and Move Down buttons on the outline toolbar to reorder the
studies.
Adding studies to an analysis
Before studies can be added to an analysis:
• The studies must be in the Included Studies section.
• You must have constructed a comparison table.
T
O ADD STUDIES
1. Right-click the outcome or subgroup and choose Add Study Data.
The New Study Data Wizard opens.
Note: If an outcome has subgroups, you can only add studies at the subgroup level.
2. Choose the studies you wish to add.
Tip: You can use Ctrl-click (Command-click on Mac OS) and Shift-click to select multiple studies.
Tip: You can also use the Filter by options to identify studies based on given criteria. You can
filter studies by a particular year range, an outcome text, Risk of bias and Judgement.
3. Click Finish.
You can now begin entering data for the studies.