In reviews where meta-analysis is not used, authors commonly report results study-by-study or draw conclusions without reporting how findings were interpreted across studies. These approaches may leave decision-makers to make sense of findings themselves, and undermine confidence in the evidence.
There are many circumstances that may preclude the use of meta-analysis of effect estimates. For example, when there is incomplete information reported about the intervention effect estimates (e.g. missing standard errors), or inconsistency in the reported effect metrics across studies. Planning for circumstances that may preclude meta-analysis can ensure that reviewers make the best use of available data and produce more useful syntheses for decision makers.
In this session, part of the Statistical analysis in systematic reviews series, content described in Chapter 12 of the Cochrane Handbook for Systematic Reviews of Interventions was presented including: structured summaries, synthesis methods and visual display methods that can be used in these circumstances (sometimes referred to as “narrative synthesis”).
The session was for both new and experienced Cochrane authors, editors and trainers. It was primarily aimed at Cochrane authors and trainers from Lower Middle Income Countries (LMICs), although it was open to everyone. It was delivered in November 2025 and below you will find the videos from the webinar, together with the accompanying slides to download [PDF].
Presenter Bio
Prof. Joanne McKenzie is head of the Methods in Evidence Synthesis Unit within the School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine at Monash University, Melbourne, Australia; and Co-directs the Melbourne branch of the Australasian EQUATOR Centre. She leads a programme of research on methods for evidence synthesis, with one key area being methods to present and synthesize results when meta-analysis is not possible. She co-led the PRISMA 2020 statement. She is an active contributor to Cochrane, including being a Co-convenor of the Statistical Methods Group and an author of several chapters of the Cochrane Handbook for Systematic Reviews of Interventions.
