*! version 2.0 05may2021

Syntax

Simple forest plot for effect sizes and meta-analysis results.

maforest [if] [in] ,
[_options_]

where effectsize is the effect size variable and
se_effectsize is the standard error of the effect size. The
effectsize can be any effect size type, such as Cohen's d,
Hedges' g, logged odds ratio, logged risk ratio, logged logit,
r or Fisher's Zr, among others. It is critical that the
effect size is in its analyzable form. For example, the effect size
can be a logged odds ratio but not an odds ratio.

Options

col1(varname)
first (leftmost) column of labels for the effect size, such as author and year

col1lbl(_string_)
column label for first column

col2(varname)
second (leftmost) column of labels for the effect size, such as author and year

col2lbl(_string_)
column label for second column

sortby(varname)
sort effect sizes by varname

xmin(num)
minimum value for the x-axis

xmax(num)
maximum value for the x-axis

xtics(numlist)
list of values for the x-axis

xlabel(_string_)
label for x-axis (default is Effect Size

logxaxis
expoential to the axis (useful if effect sizes are logged)

font(large|medium|small|tiny)
adjust font size

mean(_string_) add mean effect to bottom of plot; the
_string_ specifies the model type, such as REML, FE, etc; any
model option for is value.

leftside(_string_)
column heading for leftside of the forest plot, such as Favors
Treatment; the default is blank

rightside(_string_)
column heading for rightside of the forest plot, such as Favors
Control; the default is blank

Description

maforest performs produces a simple forest plot of effect
sizes and optionally the mean effect size. Options allow you to
control column headings, font sizes, axis labels, and more.

Related command are masum, maanova, and
mareg. These perform and overall meta-analysis, a subgroup
meta-analysis, and a meta-regression analysis.

As of Stata version 16.0, Stata has a built-in command for
conducting meta-analysis. See meta.

Acknowledgments

maforest was written by David B. Wilson and is an updated version of a command written as a companion to a book on meta-analysis he co-authored with Mark Lipsey (Lipsey & Wilson, 2001). Portions of this program are based on code from Wolfgang Viechtbauer's metafor package for R.

References

Lipsey, M. W., & Wilson, D. B. (2001). Practical
meta-analysis. Sage.