Risk-Ranking: Is It Meta-Meta-Analysis?

• Activity Number: 145
• Type: Contributed
• Date/Time: Monday, August 5, 2013 : 8:30 AM to 10:20 AM
• Sponsor: Biopharmaceutical Section
• Author(s): Mary Bartholomew*+
• Companies: FDA Center for Veterinary Medicine
• Keywords: risk-ranking ; systematic review ; meta-analysis

Abstract

Experiments, clinical trials, surveys, and observational studies all have their roles in generating data to test researchers' hypotheses. Single studies, however, are rarely viewed in isolation to answer today's important questions. Meta-analysis combines inferential information from multiple studies surrounding a common theme to answer the question "What is the conclusion about this hypothesis, taking all relevant information into consideration?" Meta-analysis methodology has been in use long enough that standards for performing meta-analyses have been developed. In risk ranking, information across a number of topic areas is evaluated to develop a ranked list of the topics. An embedded meta-analysis may be used in providing the information for each topic area. Risk ranking is gaining in popularity and can be applied to resource planning in diverse areas ranging from contract risks to food safety risks. Risk ranking projects are becoming more complex due to increasing availability of data. Adoption of standards for risk ranking methodology in the same vein as those for meta-analysis will improve future assessments and, consequently, future decisions.