Systematic Review

Question 1

What are the two main types of review article?

Answer 1

Summary reviews, synthesis reviews

Question 2

What is a summary review?

Answer 2

1. Full explanation of a topic, ie textbook chapters etc

2. BUT not “evidence-based”, may be incomplete/wishy washy

Question 3

What is a synthesis review?

Answer 3

1. A systematic review, may have meta-analysis

2. Useful for answering “foreground”/specific questions

Question 4

What is a metanalysis?

Answer 4

1. Statistical technique for combining findings from independent studies

Question 5

What are the questions to ask when appraising a review article?

Answer 5

1. Was the process credible?
2. What are the results
3. How can I apply the results to patient care?

Question 6

What should the methods of a systematic review include?

Answer 6

1. Search of at least two databases

Question 7

Statistical heterogeneity

Answer 7

When the difference among study results is greater than chance alone (ie. due to other differences)
Evaluated visually and with I^2 test

Question 8

Publication bias

Answer 8

1. Likelihood that negative results will not be published. This means a meta analysis could over-inflate real benefits/results.
2. Funnel plot will help show this

Question 9

What are the steps in conducting a systematic review

Answer 9

1. Formulate question
2. Define inclusion and exclusion criteria
3. Find studies: consider at least two databases, unpublished research, yet to be published work
4. Select studies (with method)
5. Assess study quality
6. Extract Data, analyze

Question 10

If a review includes a treatment what must it do?

Answer 10

Search the cochrane database

Question 11

What does a good systematic review do?

Answer 11

Search multiple databases
Have good inclusion and exclusion criteria
Have two reviewers doing data abstraction
Search reference lists and gray literature
Assess for publication bias
Assess papers for validity
Do a sensitivity analysis