Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses Overview
32 Questions
0 Views

Choose a study mode

Play Quiz
Study Flashcards
Spaced Repetition
Chat to Lesson

Podcast

Play an AI-generated podcast conversation about this lesson

Questions and Answers

What aspect of study design is emphasized for the effectiveness of crisis houses in psychosis management?

  • Case-control studies
  • Qualitative assessments
  • Randomised controlled trials (correct)
  • Observational studies

What is one of the components that should be included in the study eligibility criteria based on the PICOS framework?

  • Intervention duration
  • Sample size
  • Population characteristics (correct)
  • Funding sources

Which process is NOT recommended for screening papers during a systematic review?

  • Assessing titles and abstracts first
  • Reading only the full papers (correct)
  • Following a pre-established process
  • Involving multiple raters if possible

Which of the following is a source of grey literature to be considered in systematic reviews?

<p>PhD theses (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What search strategy component is crucial for replicability in systematic reviews?

<p>Clearly documenting the search process (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which database is known for a broad range of bioscience research?

<p>Web of Science (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following methods is NOT typically used to combine search terms?

<p>Underscoring (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is an example of an outcome that should be reported in studies of crisis houses?

<p>Symptoms (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary purpose of conducting a literature review?

<p>To synthesize previously published academic work (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is one of the main advantages of conducting a systematic review?

<p>It results in a comprehensive data search (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following best describes a meta-analysis?

<p>An aggregation of results that simplifies complex data analysis (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What does the PRISMA guidelines ensure in systematic reviews?

<p>They provide a framework for systematically reporting reviews (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is a significant limitation in conducting systematic reviews?

<p>Publication bias affecting the results (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the first step in designing a systematic review?

<p>Define the research question as precisely as possible (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What issue can arise from data manipulation in systematic reviews?

<p>It may lead to fraudulent analyses (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

How can a systematic review guide clinical decision-making?

<p>Through the aggregation of strong evidence and findings (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which study design is specifically mentioned as appropriate for evaluating the clinical effectiveness of interventions?

<p>Randomised controlled trials (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is one of the key components that should be included in defining a search strategy for a systematic review?

<p>Choice of databases (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What type of literature is referred to as 'grey literature'?

<p>PhD theses, conference proceedings, and reports (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

In formulating the search terms, which technique is used to include variations in spellings?

<p>Truncation (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What should a systematic review's data extraction process ideally involve?

<p>Multiple raters if possible (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following outcomes would be appropriate to measure in studies regarding crisis houses?

<p>Social functioning (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What does the term 'PICOS' stand for in the context of study eligibility criteria?

<p>Population, Intervention, Comparison, Outcomes, Study design (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which guideline provides internationally recognized standards for conducting and reporting systematic reviews?

<p>PRISMA guidelines (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is one of the benefits of conducting a systematic review?

<p>It avoids relying on anecdotal evidence. (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What does pooling results in a meta-analysis achieve?

<p>Enhanced statistical power for clearer conclusions. (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which aspect of systematic reviews is crucial for transparency in the research process?

<p>Methods section allowing replication of review methods. (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which limitation refers to the underrepresentation of negative research findings in publications?

<p>Publication bias. (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is a key component in developing inclusion and exclusion criteria in a systematic review?

<p>The PICOS framework. (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What potential issue arises from differences in types of included studies in a systematic review?

<p>Challenges in data synthesis and validity. (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which action can improve the quality and visibility of data in systematic reviews?

<p>Encouraging trial registrations and open science. (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Why is it important to consider the timing and cultural context of studies included in a systematic review?

<p>It can impact the generalizability of results. (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Flashcards

Systematic Review

A comprehensive and repeatable process of gathering all relevant evidence on a research question. It traces all relevant evidence and systematically analyzes it, aiming to minimize bias in the synthesis.

Meta-analysis

A statistical method that combines data from multiple independent studies to arrive at a more powerful conclusion. It increases the statistical power to detect real effects and reduces uncertainty.

Publication Bias

Bias due to selective publishing of studies. Studies with positive findings are more likely to be published than studies with negative or inconclusive findings.

PRISMA Guidelines

A set of guidelines specifying how to report systematic reviews. Helps ensure reviews are transparent, reproducible, and of high quality.

Signup and view all the flashcards

PICOS Framework

A framework to define inclusion and exclusion criteria for studies in a systematic review. Stands for Population, Intervention, Comparison, Outcome, and Study Design.

Signup and view all the flashcards

Literature Review

A study that summarizes and evaluates previously published research on a particular topic. It presents a comprehensive analysis of existing literature.

Signup and view all the flashcards

Evidence Synthesis

A process of summarizing and evaluating multiple studies to create a comprehensive understanding of the overall evidence.

Signup and view all the flashcards

Data Invisibility

The challenge of accessing all relevant data when conducting a systematic review, due to factors like language restrictions or unpublished studies.

Signup and view all the flashcards

Research Question and Search Strategy

A research question should guide the development of a search strategy, which includes the selection of databases, search terms, and search limits. To avoid missing relevant studies, it's better to have more inclusive search terms than to be overly narrow.

Signup and view all the flashcards

OVID Database Platform

OVID is a comprehensive platform offering access to multiple databases covering various research areas. Some of these databases include Medline/PubMed (biomedicine and health), Web of Science (bioscience), Embase (biomedicine and pharmaceuticals), PsycINFO (psychology), CINAHL (nursing and allied health), and Cochrane (including systematic reviews and RCT databases).

Signup and view all the flashcards

Grey Literature

Grey literature refers to research publications not available through traditional scholarly databases. Examples include PhD theses, conference proceedings, guidelines, and reports from advocacy organizations. It's essential to include these sources in your search to ensure comprehensive coverage.

Signup and view all the flashcards

Defining Search Terms

To accurately search for relevant studies, it's essential to identify key concepts within your research question. Define all relevant terms and use techniques like quotation marks for precise phrases, truncation for multiple spellings (*), and Boolean operators (AND, OR, NOT) to combine terms and refine your search.

Signup and view all the flashcards

Boolean Operators

Boolean operators are like logic connectors, allowing you to combine search terms in specific ways. For instance, "AND" narrows your search, requiring both terms to be present in the results. "OR" broadens your search, including results with either term. "NOT" excludes specific terms from the results.

Signup and view all the flashcards

Research Question

A clear and focused statement that guides the entire research process. It determines the scope of the review, helps define inclusion and exclusion criteria, and directs the search strategy.

Signup and view all the flashcards

OVID

A collection of databases offering access to a wide range of research publications, including biomedical and health sciences, bioscience, pharmaceutical research, psychology, nursing, and allied health.

Signup and view all the flashcards

Study Notes

Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses

  • Synthesize existing research to answer a specific question.
  • Offer a comprehensive and reproducible approach to searching and evaluating evidence, minimizing bias.
  • Improve clinical decision-making and guidelines by summarizing available data.
  • Meta-analyses combine results from multiple studies to increase statistical power and strengthen conclusions.
  • A systematic review is a comprehensive and reproducible search, tracing all relevant evidence, and examining all types of data, not just randomized controlled trials.
  • A literature review summarizes previous academic work on a research question.

Benefits of Systematic Reviews & Meta-Analyses

  • Comprehensive data synthesis avoids subjective biases and missed evidence.
  • Pooling data enhances clarity of findings and improves treatment decisions.
  • Provides robust support for treatments, showing clear indications of success.
  • Makes evidence accessible, allowing assessment of what is known and not known.
  • Can guide clinical decision making and guidelines, leading to more powerful analyses when meta-analysis is possible.

Limitations of Systematic Reviews & Meta-Analyses

  • Publication bias is a significant concern; negative findings are often underrepresented.
  • Language limitations may exclude research from non-English speaking countries.
  • Data manipulation issues and flawed analysis might compromise the review's validity.
  • Variable study characteristics and methodologies in included studies can weaken overall conclusions.
  • Negative conclusions might indicate a treatment doesn't work, evidence lacks an effect (due to small numbers or poor quality studies), or important effects may not be measured.
  • 50% of trials might not be published, reflecting data invisibility and the stakeholders' interest in non-publication.

Steps in Designing a Systematic Review

  • Define a precise research question.
  • Adhere to PRISMA guidelines for reporting.
  • Establish inclusion/exclusion criteria (PICOS) – population, intervention, comparator, outcomes, study design.
  • Identify relevant sources & dates.
  • Design a search strategy, using databases like Medline, Embase, Web of Science, Cochrane Library, etc.
  • Screen papers for eligibility (title/abstract, full text).
  • Extract and analyze data, assessing data quality and bias risks.
  • Synthesize findings, considering meta-analysis possibilities.
  • Register the protocol and adhere to reporting standards.
  • Specify your sources (databases, grey literature, research registries), language, and date ranges.
  • Decide on a screening process for papers (titles and abstracts, then full papers; multiple raters if possible).
  • Specify data to extract, how to store and process it, and how to synthesize studies (meta-analysis, summary, quality rating tool).
  • Register your protocol in a registry like PROSPERO.

Search Strategy Development

  • The research question directly informs the strategy: database selection, keywords, and limits.
  • Broad, encompassing searches are preferred.
  • Transparency for reproducibility is crucial.
  • Utilize Boolean operators (AND, OR, NOT) and truncation (*) for keyword variations.
  • Search terms and phrases encompassing key concepts are necessary for comprehensive coverage.

PRISMA guidelines

  • Provide standardized procedures for systematic review conduct and reporting.
  • Enhance rigor and transparency by covering research questions, eligibility criteria, sources, and reporting steps.
  • Maintain high quality research, enabling others to understand the methodology.

Databases

  • Multiple academic databases exist (e.g., Ovid, PubMed, Web of Science, Embase, PsycINFO, CINAHL, Cochrane).
  • Different databases suit different research specialties.

Grey Literature

  • Includes supplementary data sources beyond academic publications like conference papers, PhD theses, and campaigning organization reports.
  • Provides a broader perspective, including evidence not in standard databases.

Defining Search Terms

  • Specify keywords and phrases for comprehensive coverage, relating to the research question and key concepts.
  • Include terms from the intervention, participants, types of studies, and outcomes.
  • Appropriate Boolean operators and truncation enhance results.
  • Use inverted commas to search whole phrases and truncation (*) for variations in spellings.
  • Combine terms using Boolean operators for precision and scope.

Studying That Suits You

Use AI to generate personalized quizzes and flashcards to suit your learning preferences.

Quiz Team

Description

This quiz explores the principles of systematic reviews and meta-analyses, highlighting their importance in clinical decision-making. It examines the benefits, limitations, and methodologies used to synthesize research evidence effectively. A must-know for anyone interested in research methodology and evidence-based practice.

More Like This

Use Quizgecko on...
Browser
Open
Browser
Browser