Systematic Reviews

Question 1

What is a systematic review?

Answer 1

A method of systematically locating, appraising and synthesising research from primary studies

Question 2

what is the difference between a systematic review and a literature review?

Answer 2

They differ from lit reviews in that they are considered to be more comprehensive and trustworthy as they are prepared using transparent, explicit and pre-defined methods that are designed to limit bias.

Question 3

How to systematic reviews help inform clinical practice?

Answer 3

provide the clinician with one document that synthesises and summarises multiple high quality studies related to a specific research question

Question 4

Define meta-analysis?

Answer 4

combining statistical results from multiple studies and developing a common metric (effect size). effect size yields info of existence of relationship between variables and their magnitude

Question 5

Define meta-aggregation?

Answer 5

allows the synthesis of the findings of two or more qualitative research studies into thematic categories from which further understanding can be drawn

Question 6

What are the 3 steps to critically appraising systematic reviews?

Answer 6

1. Consider the validity of the review methodology
2. Consider the magnitude & precision of the intervention effect in Quant SRs OR the trustworthiness of the findings in Qual SRs
3. The applicability of the review to your specific patient or patient population

Question 7

What are the 9 steps to conducting a systematic review?

Answer 7

1. The research question and methods for undertaking the review are determined
2. The eligibility criteria for studies to be included is determined
3. The search is conducted
4. Eligibility criteria are applied to studies
5. Studies are assessed for risk of bias
6. Data is extracted
7. Data is synthesised
8. Results are interpreted and reported
9. The review is updated in the future