HTH RS M 743 / Systematic Review Methods

3 unit(s)

Prerequisite(s): HTH RS M 721, HTH RS M 702, or permission of the instructor. Plus an approved 1-page outline submitted by Nov. 15).

This course covers the methods of comprehensive syntheses of research evidence. Rigorous review methods will be highlighted, such as searching for potentially relevant articles; selecting primary articles using explicit, reproducible criteria; appraisal of studies; data synthesis; and, interpretation. The course uses the framework provided by the GRADE Working Group to evaluate certainty of estimates and present and interpret evidence. The focus of the course is on systematic reviews of interventions, which typically include randomised trials and non-randomised studies that evaluate therapeutic interventions and outcomes. This focus is to ensure that students understand and apply the fundamental processes to conduct a systematic review. The process can be applied to other review topics and study designs (such as diagnostic accuracy and prognosis) which will be briefly covered in the course. Students are required to conduct a systematic review of an intervention during the course. However, students who wish to conduct reviews of other topics will need to ensure they have methodological support in addition to what is provided within the course.