Systematic Reviews

Question 1

define qualitative synthesis

Answer 1

analyzes information found within a study to determine the strength of evidence

Question 2

define quantitative synthesis

Answer 2

analyzes multiple studies to determine the strength of evidence

Question 3

how does the confidence interval change in regards to a meta-analysis?

Answer 3

allows for a narrower confidence interval since you are using a very large amount of data

Question 4

define pooling

Answer 4

shows multiple types of outcomes

Question 5

define publication bias

Answer 5

when the sample of studies located through the literature is biased (negative studies less likely to be published, small sample size studies less likely to be published

Question 6

what are 3 methods for assessing publication bias?

Answer 6

Funnel plot, Egger’s test, and Trim & fill method

Question 7

why is a funnel plot useful to assess publication bias?

Answer 7

look at image 5
Can plot data from studies to show how the plot changes from using data found in unpublished studies to show the effect of publication bias

Question 8

what is heterogeneity?
how do we deal with it?

Answer 8

it is the difference in the consistency of data after the observed intervention
to deal with it, we use clinical diversity of participants, interventions, outcomes, and setting to provide clinical differences that are expected to impact the outcome

Question 9

how do we test for statistical heterogeneity?

Answer 9

we use the Cochran Q test reported as a p-value, where p < 0.10 = statistically significant heterogeneity

Question 10

what is a good tool we can use for evaluating an individual study quality within a systematic review?

Answer 10

AMSTAR

Question 11

identify and interpret a forest plot

Answer 11

look at image 6