WEEK TWELVE Flashcards
Define Systematic Review?
A summary of the research literature that is focused on a single question
The characteristics of systematic review?
Clearly articulated objectives and questions
Detailed inclusion and exclusion criteria
A comprehensive search
Critical appraisal of the quality of included studies
Data analysis (meta-analysis)
Presentation and synthesis of the findings extracted
Transparent reported methodology
Level of evidence
Rigorous methodology
Peer reviewed
Relatively large sample size
Ensure the highest quality evidence
Why do nurses use SR in work place
Make healthcare decisions
Easy to access reliable information & shortcuts in the EBP process
Easy to replicate
Widely used by professional & non-professional groups
Support clinical practice
Save time
Define Evidence base nursing?
A process that nurses use to make clinical decisions and answer clinical questions based on the best available research evidence, their clinical expertise and patient preferences in the context of existing resources
Types of systematic reviews
Quantitative: only quantitative primary research studies
Qualitative: only qualitative primary research studies
Mixed method: based on both quantitative & qualitative studies
Steps to conduct a SR
PLANNING
formulate research question, develop a research protocol
CONDUCTING
conduct search, select relevant studies, assess studies quality
REPORTING
write up reports/papers
Formulate research question
Answers specific questions, not general summaries of literature
PICO(T) question
Search stratergy in SR
Stage 1: Initial search of literature
Stage 2: Conduct search
Stage 3: Bibliography search
Selecting relevant studies
Set up criteria
Inclusion vs. exclusion
Inclusion criteria: population, intervention, comparison, outcome & study design
Exclusion criteria: specific population, outcome etc…
critical appraisal in SR
(A) Are the results of the review valid?
Did the review address a clearly focused question?
Did the authors look for the right type of papers?
Do you think all the important, relevant studies were included?
Did the review’s authors do enough to assess the quality of the included studies?
If the results of the review have been combined, was it reasonable to do so?
(B) What are the results?
- What are the overall results of the review?
- How precise are the results?
(C) Will the results help locally?
- Can the results be applied to the local population?
- Were all important outcomes considered?
- Are the benefits worth the harms and costs?
data extraction
Collect with the aid of a data-extraction tool to: Ensure relevant Minimize risk Ensure accuracy Serve as a record of the data collected Commonly used data-extraction tools paper and pencil and their equivalent electronic word processing software spread sheets local relational databases web-based forms electronic web-based database
Meta-Analysis
A statistical process to synthesise the relevant findings of multiple small studies to draw conclusions about a specific research question
Part of a systematic review
Meta-synthesis
Analysis of several qualitative studies
Summary of findings
Available software tools: Qualitative Assessment and Review Instrument (QARI)
Limitations of SR
Badly conducted SRs Bias on paper selection Influenced by researchers search skills Result might not be combined & presented properly Language limits
