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Stats Exam > Lecture 4 - Systematic Review and Meta-analysis > Flashcards

Lecture 4 - Systematic Review and Meta-analysis Flashcards

1
Q

What is a systematic review?

A

A structured method of reviewing research that identifies, selects, synthesizes, and appraises primary research evidence relevant to a specific question.

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2
Q

What is the primary aim of systematic reviews?

A

To synthesize evidence from multiple studies to provide reliable answers to specific research questions.

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3
Q

Why are systematic reviews valuable?

A

They combine evidence from several studies, resolve conflicts in findings, and provide a comprehensive basis for decision-making.

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4
Q

What are the 8 key steps of a systematic review?

A
  1. Formulate the research question.
  2. Develop a research protocol.
  3. Conduct a comprehensive literature search.
  4. Select studies based on criteria.
  5. Extract data from selected studies.
  6. Conduct quality assessment (critical appraisal).
  7. Synthesize data (quantitative or narrative).
  8. Disseminate results.
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5
Q

What makes a good research question in systematic reviews?

A

It should be specific, clearly stated, and often structured using the PICOS framework.

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6
Q

What does PICOS stand for?

A

Population, Intervention, Comparator, Outcomes, and Study design.

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7
Q
A
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8
Q

What is a research protocol in systematic reviews?

A

A predefined plan outlining aims, methodology, search strategy, inclusion/exclusion criteria, and data synthesis methods.

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9
Q

Why is registering research protocols important?

A

It ensures transparency, minimizes reporting bias, and avoids duplication of efforts.

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10
Q

What are essential tips for conducting a literature search?

A

Use inclusion/exclusion criteria, structured search terms (AND/OR), multiple databases, and document the strategy for replicability.

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11
Q

What challenges arise in literature searching?

A

Deciding where to start, determining when to stop, handling associated domains, and perfecting the search strategy.

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12
Q

What is deduplication in systematic reviews?

A

The process of removing duplicate records across databases to refine the dataset.

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13
Q

What are the stages of study selection?

A

Title and abstract screening followed by full-text screening, conducted independently by at least two reviewers.

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14
Q

How should excluded studies be documented?

A

By specifying reasons for exclusion (e.g., relevance, methodology, or topic mismatch).

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14
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15
Q

What tools can assist in data extraction?

A

EPPI-Reviewer, RevMan, or custom-designed data extraction forms.

16
Q

What information is typically included in data extraction forms?

A

Study characteristics, participant demographics, intervention/comparator details, and outcomes.

17
Q

Why is critical appraisal essential?

A

To assess the validity, reliability, and relevance of studies to minimize bias.

18
Q

What types of bias should be assessed?

A

Selection bias, allocation bias, confounding, blinding, dropouts, and statistical analysis quality.

19
Q

What tools are used for critical appraisal?

A

Cochrane Risk of Bias Tool, NICE guidelines, or EPPI-Centre checklists.

20
Q

What are the types of data synthesis in systematic reviews?

A

Quantitative (meta-analysis), narrative, and qualitative synthesis.

21
Q

What is meta-analysis?

A

A statistical method to combine results from multiple studies to calculate an overall effect size.

22
Q

When should meta-analysis not be conducted?

A

When studies are too diverse, data are inappropriate, or study quality is poor.

23
Q

What is a forest plot?

A

A visual representation of meta-analysis results showing effect sizes and confidence intervals.

24
Q

What are the advantages of systematic reviews?

A

Comprehensive, transparent, minimizes bias, and informs evidence-based practice.

25
Q

What are limitations of systematic reviews?

A

Time-intensive, publication bias, language bias, and challenges in synthesizing heterogeneous data.

26
Q

What are the benefits of meta-analysis?

A

Combines data for precise effect estimates, identifies trends, and resolves inconsistencies.

27
Q

What are limitations of meta-analysis?

A

Requires high-quality data, prone to judgment errors, and may oversimplify complex findings.

28
Q

What does PRISMA stand for?

A

Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses.

29
Q

Why is dissemination important in systematic reviews?

A

To ensure findings inform policy, practice, and future research.

30
Q

What should be included in result dissemination?

A

Clear reporting of methods, results, limitations, and implications for practice.

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