Systematic Review and Meta-analysis Flashcards
(16 cards)
What is a systematic review?
A systematic review attempts to identify, appraise and synthesize all the empirical evidence that meets pre-specified eligibility criteria to answer a specific research question.
Researchers conducting systematic reviews use explicit, systematic methods aimed at minimizing bias to produce reliable findings for decision making.
What are the main components of a systematic review?
- Identification of relevant studies from various sources
- Selection of studies for inclusion and evaluation of strengths and limitations
- Systematic collection of data
- Appropriate synthesis of data
This process ensures that the review is comprehensive and unbiased.
When might doctors want to read a systematic review?
- To answer a clinical question
- If there are a large number of studies related to the question
- If the results of studies contradict each other
- To inform research planning and identify gaps in knowledge
- For the production of evidence-based guidelines
Systematic reviews provide a consolidated view of existing evidence.
When should doctors not read a systematic review?
- If the review answers a narrow question unrelated to their clinical question
- If the authors haven’t followed best practice guidelines
- If the review doesn’t answer their clinical question acceptably for the patient
These factors can lead to misapplication of findings.
What differentiates a systematic review from a narrative review?
A systematic review is replicable, transparent, and systematic, while a narrative review may be heavily influenced by opinion.
Systematic reviews follow a structured methodology to minimize bias.
What is the Cochrane Collaboration?
Cochrane is an international network that gathers and summarizes the best evidence from research to help inform treatment choices.
It is a registered not-for-profit organization that does not accept commercial or conflicted funding.
What is meta-analysis?
Meta-analysis is a statistical analysis that combines results from 2 or more separate studies to calculate a weighted average of effect estimates.
It is often an optional part of a systematic review.
Why do we use meta-analysis?
- To increase power and precision
- To assess consistency and generalizability of results
- To answer questions not posed by original studies (subgroup analysis)
- To resolve controversies from conflicting studies
- To generate new hypotheses
It helps in drawing more reliable conclusions from combined data.
When can we perform a meta-analysis?
- When more than one study has estimated an effect
- When the studies are sufficiently similar
- When data is available in a compatible form
Compatibility of data is crucial for meaningful results.
What is a funnel plot used for?
A funnel plot is used to assess publication/reporting biases in systematic reviews.
It visually represents the relationship between study size and effect estimates.
What are the steps in conducting a systematic review?
- Formulation of a clear question
- Write a protocol and register it
- Search for relevant studies
- Collect data from studies
- Assessment of included studies
- Synthesis of findings
- Interpretation of results
Each step is essential for maintaining the integrity of the review process.
What is the importance of having a multidisciplinary research team for a systematic review?
A multidisciplinary team enhances the quality and accuracy of the review by including diverse expertise such as librarians, reviewers, and biostatisticians.
This collaboration helps in minimizing errors and biases in data extraction.
What does the phrase ‘rubbish in, rubbish out’ imply in the context of meta-analysis?
It implies that the quality of a meta-analysis is directly dependent on the quality of the studies included.
Poor quality studies can lead to misleading conclusions.
What should be considered when interpreting the results of a systematic review?
- Statement of principal findings
- Strengths and limitations of the review
- Interpretation of evidence
- Direction and magnitude of overall effect estimate
- Recommendations and implications for practice and research
Careful interpretation is crucial for applying findings to clinical practice.
Fill in the blank: A systematic review requires _______ to minimize errors during data extraction.
more than one person
Independent data extraction by multiple reviewers can reduce potential biases.
True or False: All systematic reviews are of good quality.
False
Not all systematic reviews adhere to high standards of quality.
