Forest plots: trying to see the wood and the trees

摘要: Few systematic reviews containing meta-analyses are complete without a forest plot. But what plots, and where did they come from? #### Summary points Forest plots show the information from individual studies that went into meta-analysis at glance They amount of variation between an estimate overall result Forest in various forms, have been published for about 20 years During this time, improved, but it is still not easy to draw them most standard computer packages In typical plot, results component shown as squares centred on point result each study. A horizontal line runs through square its confidence interval—usually, always, 95% interval. The interval put bottom, represented diamond. centre diamond …