What are the Challenges in Conducting Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses?
Conducting systematic reviews and meta-analyses involves several challenges:
- Heterogeneity: Variability across studies in terms of populations, interventions, outcomes, and methodologies can complicate data synthesis. - Publication Bias: Studies with positive results are more likely to be published, which can skew the findings. - Quality of Included Studies: The reliability of the review depends on the quality of the included studies. Poor-quality studies can lead to misleading conclusions. - Time and Resource Intensive: The process is often time-consuming and requires significant resources and expertise.
