STANDARDIZATION OF TERMINOLOGY IN METAANALYSIS - A PROPOSAL FOR WORKING DEFINITIONS

In this paper we present a brief overview of the growing concern to st andardize definitions and terminology in meta-analysis. This tool has become inescapable in both drug research and therapeutic evaluation. T he performed and published meta-analyses are increasing, as well as th e variation in the meaning of the terms used in meta-analysis. In the second part of the paper we propose glossary of the most common terms used in reports of meta-analyses. The glossary has been written by onl y one group of scientists, the definitions are therefore proposed to t he scientific community as working definitions, to be subject to react ions from leaders in meta-analysis.