Developing a better understanding of the broader forms of evidence synthesis
Systematic reviews and meta-analysis play a major part in contributing to the pool of best available evidence in healthcare. Moreover, their results underpin national and international guidance. Because of their importance, evidence synthesis methodology continues to evolve.
This module will focus on providing an understanding of the broader forms of evidence synthesis, and their methods, with a particular focus on complex reviews. Such reviews include diagnostic test accuracy reviews, clinical study reports, individual participant data (IPD), reviews of non-randomised data, and qualitative reviews. Students attending this course will gain insight into some of these more complex forms of evidence synthesis, as well as explore emerging forms of synthesis and learn how to incorporate these methods into a review protocol.
A basic understanding of systematic reviews is advantageous, but not essential.
Aims of the module
By the end of the course the aim is that students will be able to:
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Recognise the need for the broader forms of evidence synthesis in healthcare
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Develop the skills needed to develop more advanced search strategies
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Understand the methods needed to conduct diagnostic test accuracy reviews
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Recognise the need and value of individual participant data (IPD) meta-analysis
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Be familiar with clinical study reports, regulatory data and the challenges of conducting reviews of such data
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Understand the methods involved with conducting reviews of non randomised data
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Become familiar with qualitative and mixed methods reviews
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Explore further emerging forms of evidence synthesis
This module is a compulsory module of the MSc in EBHC Systematic Reviews and an optional module for the MSc in Evidence-Based Health Care and MSc in EBHC Medical Statistics.