Föreläsning 7

Question 1

What is a systematic review?

Answer 1

A systematic review is a type of research study that aims to collect, critically evaluate, and synthesize all available evidence on a specific research question using a structured and transparent method.

Key Features of a Systematic Review:
* Clear Research Question: Starts with a well-defined question, often using a framework like PICO (Population, Intervention, Comparison, Outcome).
* Comprehensive Search Strategy: Searches multiple databases and sources to find all relevant studies, not just the most well-known or positive ones.
* Inclusion and Exclusion Criteria: Clearly defines which studies will be included or excluded based on factors like study type, participants, date, etc.
* Study Selection and Data Extraction: Uses a structured process to select studies and extract data in a consistent way—often done by more than one reviewer to reduce bias.
* Quality Assessment: Evaluates the quality or risk of bias in the included studies, using tools like the Cochrane Risk of Bias tool.
* Data Synthesis:
- Qualitative synthesis if the data is too different to combine numerically.
- Meta-analysis if the data is similar enough to be statistically combined.
* Transparent Reporting: Follows guidelines like PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses) to ensure clarity and reproducibility.

Question 2

Why Are Systematic Reviews Important?

Answer 2

• They reduce bias compared to narrative reviews.
• They help decision-makers (like doctors or policymakers) rely on the best available evidence.
• They often identify gaps in research.

Question 3

Define the process of SLR (Systematic Literature Review)

Answer 3

1. Problem formulation
   - Develop research plan
   - Develop research question
   - Create inclusion/exclusion criteria
2. Data-gathering
   - Search relevant databases using defined keywords.
   - Apply inclusion/exclusion criteria to filter studies.
   - Record all studies, including excluded ones.
3. Data-evaluation
   - Assess the quality of each study.
   - Use critical appraisal tools.
   - Classify studies by relevance and quality
4. Data-analysis
   - Synthesize quantitative data (e.g., meta-analysis) if applicable.
   - Summarize qualitative data by themes or patterns.
   - Identify gaps and inconsistencies in the literature.
5. Rapport findings
   - Present findings in a structured report.
   - Use visuals like tables or charts.
   - Discuss implications, limitations, and future research.

Question 4

What is PICO(S) framwork?

Answer 4

The PICO(S) framework is a structured method used to formulate focused and answerable research questions, especially in systematic reviews and evidence-based research

P - Population / Problem | Who is the population, or what is the problem being studied?
I - Intervention | What is being done? (e.g., a treatment, method, exposure)
C- Comparison (optional) | What is the main alternative to compare with the intervention?
O - Outcome | What outcomes are being measured or expected?
(S) - Study design (optional) | What type of study is being considered? (e.g., RCTs, qualitative studies, etc.)

Question 5

What is abstract screening?

Answer 5

Abstract screening is a key step in a Systematic Literature Review (SLR) or Systematic Review, where you evaluate the relevance of research articles based only on their titles and abstracts before deciding whether to read the full text.

The goal is to filter out irrelevant studies early in the review process, so you only spend time on articles that are likely to meet your inclusion criteria

✅ How does it work?
1. Define inclusion and exclusion criteria (before screening).
2. Go through each article’s title and abstract.
3. Decide:
✔️ Include if it matches your criteria.
❌ Exclude if it clearly doesn’t.
❓ Maybe if you’re unsure (usually handled later with full-text screening).
4. Usually done by two or more reviewers independently to reduce bias. Disagreements are resolved through discussion.

Question 6

What is Quantitative Synthesis?

Answer 6

Quantitative synthesis is a method used in systematic reviews or systematic literature reviews (SLRs) to numerically combine data from multiple studies in order to identify overall trends, patterns, or effects.

Quantitative synthesis is the process of combining numerical data from multiple studies to find an overall trend or effect. It often involves calculating and pooling effect sizes using statistical methods like meta-analysis. The goal is to summarize the results in a measurable way, identify patterns, and draw evidence-based conclusions.

Question 7

What is Descriptive synthesis?

Answer 7

Descriptive synthesis is the process of summarizing and organizing findings from multiple studies without using statistics. Instead of combining numbers, you group and describe themes, patterns, and similarities/differences in the results