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	Introduction to ethics in evidence generation	Online course	1–2 hours
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	Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis — Open & Free	Online Course
Qualitative Evidence Synthesis	Cochrane Collaboration	Introduction to Qualitative Evidence Synthesis	Online workshop	1 hour	Free

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	Meta-analysis methods 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

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	Details	Duration
Quality appraisal	Cochrane Collaboration	GRADE Handbook	Text		3–4 hours
	Campbell Collaboration	Advanced methods	Webinars		Up to 6 hours
-	Cochrane Collaboration	Cochrane Membership	Networking		-
	Cochrane Collaboration	Cochrane International Mobility Programme	-		-
Searching literature	Center for Public Health Practice, Colorado School of Public Health	Identifying Evidence-Based Practices: A Guide to Searching the Literature	Online course