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In this book, I investigate statistical issues and develop methodological recommendations for individual patient data meta-analysis of prognostic factor studies projects. I undertook an empirical study to compare between the individual patient data (IPD)and aggregated data approach to assess PFs in breast cancer. I showed that the IPD approach is preferable over aggregated data. I developed eleven IPD meta-analysis models to investigate whether accounting for clustering of patients within studies should be undertaken and which approach is the best to use. The models differed by using either a one-step or two-step approach, and whether they accounted for parameter correlation and residual variation. In addition, I developed three non-linear fractional polynomial IPD meta-analysis models based on whether one-step or two-step approach and whether first or second order fractional polynomial functions are performed.

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Dr. Ghada Abo-Zaid is an assistant professor at Ain Shams University,Egypt. She had her Ph.D. at School of Mathematics-University of Birmingham,UK. Dr. Abo-Zaid has over 15 years´ experience using quantitative research methods in different fields such as medical statistics, marketing,and social science. She had published over ten journal articles.

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