Standardized Mean Difference (SMD): A Key Metric for Meta-Analysis

Standardized mean differences (SMDs) are a statistical measure employed in meta-analysis to compare the effect sizes of various studies that measure the same outcome variable but utilize different scales or units of measurement. SMDs are computed by taking the difference between the mean scores of the treatment and control groups, and dividing it by the pooled standard deviation of the two groups. This process enables a comparison of effect sizes across studies, irrespective of the specific measurement scales used. SMDs are frequently used in meta-analyses of clinical trials, where different studies may utilize different outcome measures or assessment tools.