Systematics reviews are considered the most rigorous and transparent approach to synthesising literature on a given topic. This training package includes resources on how to undertake a systematic review as well as other synthesis methodologies. The supplementary materials at the end are for optional further reading, and also include links to networking opportunities.
Key learning objectives include:
recognizing the key features of different synthesis research designs, primarily systematic reviews and meta-analysis;
understanding the key components of a review question and how to prepare one:
describing the steps in undertaking a systematic review;
understanding the key principles guiding ethical evidence generation.
Basic
The online courses below provide an introduction to systematic reviews, how to conduct them and the ethical basis for undertaking different forms of evidence generation. Each of these courses has been designed for their specific context but the principles can readily be applied outside of these organizations.
|
Topic |
Source |
Title |
Format |
Duration |
Cost and access |
|
Steps for literature reviews |
Cochrane Collaboration |
Introduction to conducting systematic reviews Please review all content in Module 1: Introduction to conducting systematic reviews: |
Online course |
1 hour |
Free, with login |
|
Ethics |
UNICEF |
Online course |
1–2 hours |
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|
Steps for systematic reviews |
WHO PAHO |
Introductory virtual course Systematics Reviews of the literature |
Online course |
20 hours |
Free, open access |
|
Overview of the steps for conducting a quantitative systematic review Campbell Collaboration |
Online Course |
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|
Qualitative Evidence Synthesis |
Cochrane Collaboration |
Online workshop |
1 hour |
Free |
|
|
Types of systematic reviews; advantages and limitations; understanding results |
Cochrane Collaboration |
Module 3: Introduction to systematic reviews |
Online course |
2 hours |
Free, login required |
|
Web clinic on methods and tools for living systematic reviews. |
Cochrane |
Webinar |
50 mins |
Free, login required |
Advanced
The text material below provides details on a range of different evidence synthesis methodologies and how they apply to health policy and systems research. The webinar focuses specifically on meta-analyses.
|
Topic |
Source |
Title |
Format |
Duration |
Cost and access |
|
Evidence synthesis study designs |
Alliance for Health Policy and Systems Research (AHPSR) |
Evidence synthesis for health policy and systems: a methods guide |
Text |
3–4 hours |
|
|
Meta-analysis |
Campbell Collaboration |
Please view: Video - Meta-Analysis 001
|
Webinar |
1 hour |
|
|
Practical ways to critically appraise scientific literature |
edX MOOC by MDAnderson Center |
CERTaIN: Knowledge Synthesis: Systematic Reviews and Clinical Decision Making |
Online course | 3 weeks | Free for limited amount of time |
|
Advanced methods in meta-analysis |
Cochrane |
Webinar series |
10 hours |
Free, login required |
|
|
Advanced methods in statistical analysis |
Cochrane |
Webinar series |
6 hours |
Free, login required |
Supplementary materials
All supplementary materials are optional. The GRADE handbook is a widely used approach to assessing the quality of evidence and has been added here for your reference. The networking references invite you to engage with Cochrane and it will depend on your circumstances how much you would like to engage with these.
|
Topic |
Source |
Title |
Format |
Duration |
Cost and access |
|
Quality appraisal |
Cochrane Collaboration |
Text |
3–4 hours |
Free, no login required |
|
|
Campbell Collaboration |
Webinar series |
Up to 6 hours |
Free, no login required |
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|
- |
Cochrane Collaboration |
Networking |
- |
Free, login required |
|
|
|
Cochrane Collaboration |
- |
- |
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| Searching literature | Center for Public Health Practice, Colorado School of Public Health | Identifying Evidence-Based Practices: A Guide to Searching the Literature | Online course |
Free, login required |
|
|
Systematic Reviews Basics |
University of Alabama Libraries |
Webinar series |
3 hours |
Free, no login required |
|
|
PRISMA-based systematic reviews for evidence-based healthcare decisions. |
Universiti Malaya |
Systematic Review and Risk of Bias Assessment - Online Course - FutureLearn |
Online Course |
2 weeks |
Free trial, 2 days |
|
Systematic review conducting software |
Cochrane |
Introduction to EPPI Reviewer – software for conducting systematic reviews | Cochrane |
Webinar |
1 hour |
Free, login required |
