Systematic review Flashcards
What is the purpose of a systematic review?
Synthesise Evidence: Gather, evaluate, and summarise all relevant studies on a specific research question.
Reduce Bias: Follow a structured methodology to minimise subjectivity and ensure reliability.
Identify Gaps: Highlight areas needing further research.
Inform Decision-Making:
Provide evidence-based insights for clinical practice, policymaking, or future studies.
Compare Outcomes: Evaluate the consistency of findings across multiple studies.
What is the process of conducting a systematic review (Steps 1-4) ?
Define the Research Question:
Use the PICO framework (Population, Intervention, Comparison, Outcome) to create a focused question.
Develop a Protocol:
Document objectives, inclusion/exclusion criteria, search strategy, and analysis plan.
Register the protocol on platforms like PROSPERO for transparency.
Conduct a Comprehensive Literature Search:
Search multiple databases (e.g., PubMed, Cochrane Library, EMBASE).
Use Boolean operators and keywords to ensure a thorough search.
Screen and Select Studies:
Title and Abstract Screening: Remove irrelevant studies.
Full-Text Review: Apply inclusion/exclusion criteria rigorously.
What is the process of conducting a systematic review (Steps 5-8) ?
Assess Study Quality:
Use tools like Cochrane Risk of Bias Tool or GRADE (Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development, and Evaluations) to evaluate methodological rigor.
Extract Data:
Collect key information (study design, population, intervention, outcomes).
Use standardized forms for consistency.
Synthesize Findings:
Conduct a qualitative synthesis or a meta-analysis if appropriate (pooling quantitative data for statistical analysis).
Report Results:
Write a detailed report following guidelines like PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses).
What does a ‘good’ systematic review entail?
Clearly Defined Objectives -
Research question and inclusion criteria are specific and well-articulated.
Comprehensive Search Strategy - Includes multiple databases, grey literature, and manual searches of references.
Transparent and Reproducible Protocol - Clearly documented methods, registered with platforms like PROSPERO.
Rigorous Quality Assessment - Use of validated tools to evaluate risk of bias and study reliability.
Appropriate Synthesis Methods - Data are synthesized systematically; meta-analyses are conducted when pooling is justified.
Adherence to Reporting Standards - Follow PRISMA guidelines to ensure clarity and transparency.
Critical Interpretation - Discuss the strength of evidence, limitations, and implications for practice or research.
What are the advantages of systematic reviews in research ?
Comprehensive Evidence: Combines results from multiple studies to provide robust conclusions.
Reduces Bias: Standardized methodology ensures objective and reliable findings.
Informs Practice: Offers high-level evidence for clinicians and policymakers.
Identifies Knowledge Gaps:
Guides future research by highlighting areas lacking evidence.
Reproducibility: Transparent methods allow others to replicate or update the review.
What are the disadvantages of systematic reviews in research ?
Time-Consuming: Requires extensive searching, screening, and analysis.
Risk of Publication Bias: Studies with significant results are more likely to be published, skewing findings.
Heterogeneity: Variability in study designs, populations, and outcomes may complicate synthesis.
Dependent on Available Data: Quality of the review is limited by the quality and scope of included studies.
Expensive: Requires significant resources, especially for large-scale reviews or meta-analyses.
