Introduction to network meta-analysis: understanding what it is, how it is done, and how it can be used for decision-making

Network meta-analysis (NMA), a statistical technique that allows systematic reviewers to simultaneously compare more than 2 alternatives, makes use of indirect evidence from studies comparing interventions of interest to a common comparator. The capacity for multiple simultaneous comparisons makes NMA appealing for evidence-based decision-makers. This article, aimed at users of systematic reviews (SRs) with NMAs and at those who are considering …