An Introduction to Bayesian Meta Analysis in Stata 19

In systematic literature reviews and meta-analysis, researchers frequently encounter difficulties in the evidence base that prevent the usual estimators from being used. For example, there may be reason to believe that results reported by some studies are biased. Other studies might not have reported the statistics required for traditional meta-analysis. Bayesian models for meta-analysis can accommodate these and other problems in a flexible modelling methodology. They also produce results in a probabilistic form that has been shown to support decision makers.

In this one-day Introduction to Bayesian meta-analysis in Stata, participants will be introduced to Bayesian methods using the sampling algorithms in Stata’s flexible bayesmh command, no previous experience of Bayes is therefore required. We will show how to re-conceptualise meta-analysis from a weighted average estimator to a probabilistic model, before teaching the code needed for basic common effect and random effect meta-analyses. We will then progress to more sophisticated models for network meta-analysis (multiple intervention choices) and unreported statistics.

The course is of particular interest to researchers and professional working in Biostatistic, Business Administration, Economics, Education, Management, Marketing, Psychology, Public Health and Social Sciences. Due to its introductory nature, it is however, also accessible to individuals, regardless of their respective disciplines or fields, who need to acquire the requisite toolset to apply Bayesian Meta Analysis to their own data. During the course, theoretical concepts are reinforced by applied examples, in which the course tutor discusses current research issues, highlighting potential pitfalls and the advantages of individual techniques.

Morning Session (9:00-13:00)

1. A primer on Bayesian methods and the bayesmh command in Stata;
2. Meta-analysis as a model using likelihood (and prior); basic models using Stata.

Afternoon Session (14:00-17:00)

1. Arm-based and network meta-analysis;
2. Dealing with biases and unreported statistics.

This course is being offered on the second day of the Italian Stata Users Conference that will take place in Milan at NH Hotel Machiavelli, on the 25th-26th September 2025.

This course is a one-day Introduction to Bayesian meta-analysis in Stata, led by Dr Robert Grant, one of the authors of the first book dedicated to Bayesian meta-analysis (Grant & Di Tanna 2025). Robert has also been a long-time contributor to the Stata community with new commands, training, and at conferences.

This course is being offered on the second day of the Italian Stata Users Conference that will take place in Milan at NH Hotel Machiavelli, on the 25th-26th September 2025.

Full-Time Students
Conference € 70.00
Conference / Training Course € 262.00

Others

Conference € 110.00
Conference / Training Course € 420.00

1. All participation fees are subject to VAT (applied at the current Italian rate of 22%);
2. Conference fees include: coffee breaks, lunch, course materials and a temporary licence of StataNow for those participants attending the training course;
3. Individuals interested in participating in the 2025 Italian Stata Conference should return their duly completed registration forms to the conference organizers by the 15.09.2025 at the latest.