This short course provides a detailed introduction to the methods involved in conducting a systematic review of interventions, and enables participants to plan and commence a review of their own.

The course takes a step-by-step approach to the tasks and methods involved in planning and conducting a systematic review to answer a question about the effects of a health-related intervention, from a simple drug treatment to a complex public health or health systems intervention. The course provides participants with practical skills required to plan and commence a review of their own.

Outline

• Getting started with a systematic review and defining your review questions
• Searching for and selecting studies
• Collecting data and assessing risk of bias of included studies
• Analysing continuous and dichotomous outcomes
• Introduction to meta-analysis
• Interpreting results and drawing conclusions using the GRADE framework

The workshop involves a mix of presentations, interactive examples and hands-on exercises to introduce participants to the main aspects of the review process. Participants are encouraged to identify a topic for a systematic review that they can develop during hands-on sessions.

More information

The course is one of four workshops in a week-long program. More information about the courses can downloaded here or by contacting Sue Brennan.

Cost

This two-day workshop is AUD $880 per participant (20% discount for post-graduate students). A light lunch, morning and afternoon tea is included. Course materials, including slides, will be provided electronically at the workshop. Wi-Fi available.

Sponsored registrations

This workshop is hosted by the Institute for Health Research, University of Notre Dame (download map). Sponsored registrations may be available for participants from the Institute of Health Research, University of Notre Dame - contact Max Bulsara (Max.Bulsara@nd.edu.au). A limited number of sponsored registrations are available for participants from the NHMRC CRE ISAC - email Natalie Strobel (natalie.strobel@uwa.edu.au ) with a short expression of interest outlining how attending this course will help you and address ISAC aims of improving the health and developmental outcomes of Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander children in Australia through improvements in health services.

About the facilitators

Jo McKenzie is a Senior Research Fellow (Biostatistician) at the School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Monash University.

Sue Brennan is a Research Fellow at Cochrane Australia, School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Monash University.

Natalie Strobel is a Research Fellow employed as the team leader on the evidence synthesis stream of the NHMRC Centre for Research Excellence in Improving Health Services for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Children (ISAC) at the University of Western Australia.

Max Bulsara is a Professor of Biostatistics at the Institute for Health Research, University of Notre Dame.