• Start date:
  • 25 March 2025
  • Duration:
  • 3 days
  • Intended Audience:
  • Researcher, PhD

Introduction
This course will give a broad overview of topics in meta-analysis. Most standard topics in meta-analysis will be covered, such as risk of bias analysis, searching studies, fixed versus random effect models, heterogeneity, publication bias, differences between meta-analysis of randomized trials and meta-analysis observational studies. The course will briefly cover some more advanced topics (bivariate meta-analysis, combining different metrics, network analysis).

 

Course material
All study materials are supplied electronically only in the Boerhaave Learning Environment, and will be made available about 2 weeks prior to the course.

 

Prerequisites
Basic knowledge of statistics (equivalent to the Boerhaave course "Basic methods and reasoning in Biostatistics").

A computer / laptop with proper internet access for all participants is mandatory. Students also need the STATA software or R software (R and R studio) pre-installed. No pre-knowledge of the STATA software is required. A temporary STATA license will be provided.
If you want to make use of R software, then we could recommend first following the Using R for Data Analysis course in January 2025.
In practical sessions, students will perform a standard meta-analysis by themselves.

 

Teaching environment
Lectures and practical sessions

 

Certificate of attendance
In order to obtain a proof of participation, all lectures should be attended. If you have participated for the full 3 days, you will receive a certificate of attendance within two weeks. Those who are enrolled in the Epidemiology-B programme of the department of clinical epidemiology, should make an extra post-course assignment, which will be graded.

 

Language
Course material (PowerPoint, exercises etc.) are all in English. Lectures are also in English.

 

Target group
Master and PhD students in the bio-medical sciences.

 

Organizing committee

  • Prof. dr. Olaf Dekkers

  • Prof. dr. Saskia le Cessie

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* Interested in another statistics course? Please visit our website to check out the various courses that are offered by Boerhaave Nascholing.

 

 

CONCEPT PROGRAM

 
 TUESDAY 25 MARCH 2025 
08.45Registration (V2-18/22)  
09:00Introduction to the course
Prof. dr. Olaf Dekkers
 
09:10Meta-analysis: Why & how?
Prof. dr. Olaf Dekkers
 
10:15Break 
10:30The statistical approach
Prof. dr. Olaf Dekkers
 
11:30Heterogeneity and risk of bias
Prof. dr. Olaf Dekkers
 
12:45Lunch break (lunch not covered) 
13:15Pooling effect estimates I
Prof. dr. Saskia le Cessie
 
14:15Practical 1: Pooling effects
Prof. dr. Saskia le Cessie
 
15:15End of day 1 
   
 WEDNESDAY 26 MARCH 2025 
08:45Registration (V2-18/22)  
09:00Heterogeneity: Statistical
Prof. dr. Saskia le Cessie
 
10:00Publication bias
Prof. dr. Olaf Dekkers
 
10:30Break 
10:45Meta-analysis of observational studies
Prof. dr. Olaf Dekkers
 
11:30Practical 2: Risk of bias analysis
Prof. dr. Olaf Dekkers
 
12:30Lunch break (lunch not covered) 
13:15Publication bias: Statistical
Prof. dr. Saskia le Cessie
 
14:45Break 
15:00Practical 3: Publication bias and meta regression
Prof. dr. Saskia le Cessie
 
16:00End of day 2 
  
 THURSDAY 27 MARCH 2025
08:45Registration (V2-18/22) 
09:00Pooling different effect measures
Prof. dr. Olaf Dekkers
09:45Break
10:00Pooling effect estimates : binary outcomes
Prof. dr. Saskia le Cessie
11:15Practical 4: Publication bias and meta regression
Prof. dr. Saskia le Cessie
12:00Lunch break (lunch not covered)
13:00Tips and tricks for data-extraction
Prof. dr. Saskia le Cessie
14:00Network meta analysis + practical
Prof. dr. Saskia le Cessie
15:00Final remarks
Prof. dr. Saskia le Cessie
15:30End of course
Prof. dr. Cessie, S. Le (EPI)
LUMC, Hoogleraar Epidemiologie
Prof. Dr. O.M. Dekkers
Endocrinoloog en klinisch epidemioloog, LUMC
LUMC
Hippocratespad 21, 2333 ZD Leiden

Albinusdreef 2, 2333 ZA Leiden

Building: Gebouw 3
Room: V2-18/22

Regular course fee€ 750,-
Reduced fee for PhD students LUMC € 275,-
Reduced fee for employees LUMC€ 275,-
BA/MA students of the Leiden University           Free of charge *
BA/MA students of other universities (non Leiden University)   € 85,- *

* Limited places available. In order to validate your student registration, you must register with your student e-mail address and submit your student number on the registration form. In addition, a scan of your student pass will have to be submitted to boerhaavenacholing@lumc.nl. Please note that a € 50,- cancellation fee will be charged to students who do not attend the course (no show), or cancel their registration. Incomplete registration will not be considered.

Please note that upon registration, you agree to our Terms and Conditions, including the stated cancellation policy. Administration fees may be charged upon cancellation. Moving your registration to the next edition is not possible.