METATRIM: Stata module to perform nonparametric analysis of publication bias

Thomas J Steichen ()

Statistical Software Components from Boston College Department of Economics

Abstract: metatrim implements the Duval and Tweedie nonparametric "trim and fill" method of accounting for publication bias in meta-analysis. Selective publication of studies, which may lead to bias in estimating the overall meta-analytic effect and in the inferences derived, is of concern when performing a meta-analysis. If publication bias appears to exist, then it is desirable to consider what the unbiased dataset might look like and then to reestimate the overall meta-analytic effect after any apparently "missing" studies are included. Duval and Tweedie's "nonparametric 'trim and fill' method" is an approach designed to meet these objectives. metatrim requires that program meta (Sharpe and Sterne, STB-38 and STB-42) be installed. This is version 1.0.5 of the software. This version has been modified to run correctly under Stata Version 7 and later (though it remains a version 6 program) and has two new options, mixed and flip. mixed requests that the meta-analyses during iterations be different from those of the initial and final meta-analyses. flip is a switch that changes the direction in which studies are assumed to be suppressed by publication bias. Use of this option would be appropriate, for example, where a beneficial treatment reduces the odds or risk of death.

Language: Stata
Requires: Stata version 6.0 (8.0 for dialog)
Keywords: Meta-analysis; publication bias; nonparametric; data augmentation (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2000-03-17, Revised 2004-04-09
Note: This module may be installed from within Stata by typing "ssc install metatrim". Windows users should not attempt to download these files with a web browser.

Downloads: (external link)
http://fmwww.bc.edu/repec/bocode/m/metatrim.ado program code (text/plain)
http://fmwww.bc.edu/repec/bocode/m/metatrim.hlp help file (text/plain)
http://fmwww.bc.edu/repec/bocode/m/metatrim.dlg dialog file (text/plain)

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Persistent link: http://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:boc:bocode:s410501

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