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Systematic reviews are comprehensive, structured reviews of the evidence on therapies or diagnostic tests.

Registration open

Objectives

• Learn to use the Cochrane methodology and RevMan software to generate a focused question around a clinical topic
• Perform a comprehensive literature search
• Critically appraise published studies, grade the evidence, and pool the quantitative results of studies using meta-analysis

Interactive, hands-on methods will be used to promote effective learning. Resources and tools to perform systematic reviews will be provided.

Format: Virtual workshop by zoom with break out sessions for small group discussions. ‘Poll everywhere’ app will be used as needed to gauge audience perceptions and knowledge

Systematic reviews comprise the highest level in the hierarchy of evidence to inform clinical practice. Authors of systematic reviews first generate a protocol with the relevant clinical question, specify objectives, delineate the search strategy to identify all relevant publications and prespecify methodology of the review and meta-analysis, ‘a priori’. Once the protocol is registered with Cochrane or other registries, the review is performed first searching for studies that are eligible for inclusion and performing critical appraisal of included studies. A systematic review may be performed with only qualitative synthesis when meta-analysis, the statistical synthesis of data is not appropriate. Retrieving, appraising, and synthesizing literature, fulfils ACGME core competencies of patient care, medical knowledge and practice-based learning and promotes educational scholarship.

This workshop will enable learners to develop a roadmap for performing a systematic review using Cochrane methodology. The session will lead learners through each of the steps of creation of a protocol and systematic review. Knowledge and skills imparted will relate to formulating the clinical question in PICOT format (Population, Intervention, Comparators, Outcomes and Trial design), crystallizing the objectives of the review, developing a comprehensive search strategy, identifying studies eligible for inclusion in the review using the PRISMA flow diagram, appraising the evidence using accepted methods for evaluating risk of bias, extract data and perform analysis and meta-analysis of relevant data. Participants will learn to present results in summary findings tables, rate the quality of evidence using ‘Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation (GRADE) approach and derive conclusions for clinical practice and research. The workshop will close with a question and answer session and discussion of ideas for participants to perform systematic reviews at their home institutions.

Faculty and trainees at any stage in their career who would like to perform systematic reviews.