Lit Searches

Question 1

Difference between systematic and narrative review

Answer 1

Systematic=collate all data, quality and bias analysis needed, 2 years
Narrative = selected subjectively

Question 2

What is a research question

Answer 2

Large=Thesis
Small= lit review
Smallest= search
SPECIFIC/SENSITIVE/RELEVANT

Question 3

What is PICO

Answer 3

P=population
I=indication/interventions/exposure
C=comparison
O=outcome

Question 4

Search is iron supplementation in infants to promote thyroid function, what is PICO

Answer 4

P= infants
I= iron
C= Placebo or no Intervention 
O= thyroid function

Question 5

What are operators

Answer 5

Elements that can be added to improve the search

1. E.g. ?=wildcard to look for diff spellings e.g. iodi?ed
2. Truncation= iod*
3. Adjacency word appears together will another one within a number of places e.g. iodi* adj5 deficien*
4. “ “
5. OR= broadens
6. AND= narrows
7. NOT

Question 6

What is MeSH

Answer 6

Medical Subject Heading

Need to submit these with paper when submitting to journals

Question 7

What is the hierarchy of evidence

Answer 7

RCT (systematic reviews come quite high)
Cohort studies 
Observational studies
Case (Control)studies
Expert opinion/editorials

Question 8

Cons of the hierarchy

Answer 8

Neglect relevant issue
Underrate good observational studies
Miss out some evidence
Insufficient basis for practical application

Question 9

What are the characteristics of a good lit review

Answer 9

Clear question 
Use of search strategy 
Balanced presentation 
No bias
Data summary

Question 10

What is the 10 point check list

Answer 10

1. Is the question relevant and answered
2. What is the PICO
3. Was the study design appropriate? - methods protocol deviation reported
4. Bias- have results deviated from truth by random error or systematic bias under or over estimated results
5. Protocol deviations - non compliance to relevant guidelines
   6, states a hypothesis in advance? - watch out for ad how stats done after and not proposed in protocol
   7, stats are correct?
6. All dat reported?
7. Conclusion matches results
8. Conflicts of interest

Question 11

How to assess bias

Answer 11

Candidates selection
Blinded
Controls
Sample size

Author affiliation 
Conflict of interest 
Old references 
Funding
Quality of reporting 
Abstract match results