Are you working on a systematic review and want to take it to the next step? In this beginner-friendly workshop, we’ll walk through the essential steps to perform a meta-analysis using R, with a focus on practical application and clear interpretation.

In this hands-on workshop, you’ll learn how to conduct a meta-analysis tailored for systematic reviews of RCTs. We’ll use R, a free, open-source statistical software, to guide you through importing data, calculating effect sizes, assessing heterogeneity, and producing forest plots. Whether you’re new to meta-analysis or just need a refresher, this session offers a practical entry point into evidence synthesis using reproducible, code-based workflows.

ln this workshop, participants will learn to:

• Run a meta-analysis and create a forest plot
• Perform subgroup analyses
• Create funnel plots for publication bias

No prior experience with meta-analysis is required. This workshop is ideal for researchers who are conducting or planning to conduct systematic reviews involving RCTs. Basic familiarity with R (e.g., running R scripts or using RStudio) is helpful but not required. We’ll provide all the code and walk through each step together.

Details: Any preparatory work for the session can be found on its information page. This virtual workshop will be recorded and shared on the same page, and discoverable via the Sherman Centre's Online Learning Catalogue.

Facilitator Bio: 

Sahar is a PhD candidate in the Health Research Methodology program at McMaster University with a background in midwifery. She supports researchers in data analysis using statistical software such as R, SAS, and SPSS, research methodology, and evidence synthesis.