Objectives:
To understand the advantages and the methodology of multiple-treatments meta-analyses, which allow determination of the "best" among a selection of interventions.
Description:
The workshop will provide an introduction to the concepts and methodology of multiple-treatments meta-analysis. We will outline the benefits of combining direct and indirect information, such as greater precision and ranking of the treatments compared to conventional, head-to-head meta-analysis. We will explore the different implementation alternatives (Bayesian versus frequentist) through several worked examples. We will discuss some specific methodological issues, such as the underlying assumptions of the multiple-treatments meta-analysis models and evidence consistency. We will also address concerns regarding bias due to confounding and comparator-related bias.