Systematic Reviews and Meta-analysis

The key tools of Evidence-based Medicine are systematic reviews and meta-analyses. Both technical and non-technical decision makers can benefit by participating in this seminar, in which Dr. Ross and statistical experts will provide a high-level view of the field in Part I, and end with a detailed drill-down regarding methods of performing these data syntheses in Part II. Useful checklists for appraising the evidence syntheses of others will be explained and provided, as well information sources (Web and published literature) for further reading.

1. Systematic Reviews and Meta-analysis: What and why
   1. definitions
   2. why decision-makers need them, and how they are using them
   3. pros and cons of these types of evidence syntheses (including AHRQ, Cochrane, DERP, and NICE reviews)
2. Systematic Reviews and Meta-analysis: Who and how
   1. which groups are performing them in the U.S., and globally
   2. how to perform a systematic review
      1. Formulating the question
      2. Designing a search strategy
      3. Screening citations
      4. Extracting data
      5. Critical appraisal of studies
      6. Grading the evidence
      7. Summarizing the evidence
   3. how to perform a meta-analysis
      1. data analysis set-up
      2. outcome measures (categorical and continuous)
      3. heterogeneity and bias
      4. fixed vs. random effects models
      5. Bayesian meta-analysis
      6. indirect comparisons
      7. meta-analysis of observational studies
      8. cumulative meta analysis
      9. meta regression
      10. software options
   4. how to appraise the evidence syntheses of others