MetaInsight
MetaInsight is a free online tool that helps researchers and decision makers compare multiple medical treatments using network meta-analysis without needing programming skills. It uses a simple point-and-click interface to run analyses and create visual summaries.
At a glance
Use when
When conducting or interpreting network meta-analyses in systematic reviews or health technology assessments, especially by users without statistical programming experience.
Avoid when
When advanced modeling (e.g., Bayesian frameworks, individual patient data, or complex hierarchical models) is required, or when data are sparse or highly inconsistent.
Inputs
Aggregate outcome data from randomized controlled trials, treatment labels, study design (network structure), and optional parameters such as reference treatment, effect measure (e.g., OR, RR, MD), and heterogeneity/inconsistency models.
Outputs
Network geometry plot, forest plots of pairwise comparisons, league table of treatment effects, rankogram (probability of each treatment being best, second best, etc.), surface under the cumulative ranking (SUCRA) values, measures of heterogeneity and inconsistency.
How it works
MetaInsight is a web-based application built using R Shiny and the netmeta R package to perform frequentist network meta-analysis. It enables users to conduct NMA through an interactive graphical interface, supporting data input, statistical analysis, and visualization of results including network geometry, forest plots, league tables, and rankograms. The tool is designed for accessibility, eliminating the need for coding expertise.
- HTA domains
- Clinical Effectiveness
- Assumptions
- The analysis assumes consistency between direct and indirect evidence in the network, similarity of included studies in terms of patient populations and study design, and appropriate specification of the effect model (fixed or random effects).
- Strengths
- User-friendly, no programming required; real-time interactive visualization; built on well-established netmeta R package; supports transparency and reproducibility; freely accessible via web browser.
- Limitations
- Limited to aggregate data (cannot perform individual patient data NMA); relies on the assumptions of the frequentist NMA framework; functionality constrained by the capabilities of the netmeta package; may not support all advanced NMA methods such as multivariate or dose-response models.
- Also known as
- MetaInsight tool
Questions this answers
- › Which treatment is most effective among multiple options for a given condition?
- › How do different treatments compare in terms of efficacy or safety based on indirect and direct evidence?
- › What is the certainty of the ranking of treatments in a network meta-analysis?
- › How is the network of compared treatments structured?
- › Are there inconsistencies between direct and indirect evidence in the network?
- › How do results change under different analytical assumptions or subgroups?
References & sources
Related methods
Similar by meaning
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