New study reveals ideological bias in existing meta-analyses of homeopathy
Feb 04, 2014
New study reveals ideological bias in existing meta-analyses of homeopathy
Hahn R. Homeopathy: meta-analyses of pooled clinical data. Forschende Komplementärmedizin / Research in Complementary Medicine. 01/2013; 20(5):376-81
A new study by Swedish physician, Robert Hahn, ‘Homeopathy: meta-analyses of pooled clinical data’, conducts a review of existing meta-analyses in homeopathy. It studies well-known meta-analyses including the 1997 Linde and the 2005 Shang et al. studies, and reviews the aftermath of both in terms of debate articles.
Hahn argues that it is possible to reach different conclusions, according to which studies are selected. He concludes that the methodology for meta-analysis used in Shang et al is flawed when applied to a mixture of diseases, as in this case. He warns that ideological biases colour the evaluations of homeopathy by these researchers. The study recommends that future meta-analyses should focus on the use of homeopathy in specific diseases or groups of diseases instead of pooling data from all clinical trials.
To read an abstract of the article and to purchase the study: http://www.karger.com/Article/Abstract/355916
For a detailed analysis of the study by the Integrative Care Science Center: http://www.integrativecare.se/en/alleged-ideological-bias-in-homeopathy-reviews-3609