Invited Commentary: Combining Information to Answer Epidemiologic Questions About a Target Population

Overview

Journal Am J Epidemiol

Publisher Oxford University Press

Specialty Public Health

Date 2024 Mar 8

PMID 38456780

Authors

Issa J Dahabreh

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Epidemiologists are attempting to address research questions of increasing complexity by developing novel methods for combining information from diverse sources. Cole et al. (Am J Epidemiol. 2023;192(3)467-474) provide 2 examples of the process of combining information to draw inferences about a population proportion. In this commentary, we consider combining information to learn about a target population as an epidemiologic activity and distinguish it from more conventional meta-analyses. We examine possible rationales for combining information and discuss broad methodological considerations, with an emphasis on study design, assumptions, and sources of uncertainty.

Citing Articles

Cole et al. Respond to "Combining Information From Diverse Sources".

Cole S, Edwards J, Breskin A, Rosin S, Zivich P, Shook-Sa B Am J Epidemiol. 2023; 193(5):751-752.

PMID: 37067469 PMC: 11484619. DOI: 10.1093/aje/kwad084.

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