Systematic Reviews in Health Care: A Practical Guide

Cover......Page 1
Half-title......Page 3
Title......Page 5
Copyright......Page 6
Contents......Page 7
Acknowledgements......Page 11
  Advantages......Page 13
 Method......Page 14
  Appraisal and selection of studies......Page 15
 How much work is a systematic review?......Page 16
 About this book......Page 17
Part 1 General methods......Page 19
  1.1 What types of questions can be asked?......Page 21
   1.1.1 Interventions......Page 22
   1.1.3 Diagnostic accuracy......Page 23
   1.1.5 Prediction and prognosis......Page 25
  1.3 How focused should the question be?......Page 26
  2.2 Finding published primary studies......Page 28
   2.2.1 Breaking down study question into components......Page 29
   2.2.2 Use of synonyms......Page 30
   2.2.4 Handsearching......Page 32
   2.2.6 Methodological filters......Page 33
   2.2.9 Summary......Page 34
   2.3.2 Writing to experts......Page 35
   2.4.1 What is publication bias?......Page 36
   2.4.2 Does this affect the results of the reviews?......Page 37
   2.4.4 Duplicate publications......Page 38
   3.1.1 What study features should be assessed?......Page 39
   3.1.3 How many reviewers are required?......Page 40
  3.2 Using the quality appraisal......Page 41
   4.1.2 Graphical presentation......Page 44
  4.2 Synthesis of study results......Page 45
   4.2.1 Fixed and random effects estimates......Page 48
   4.3.1 Assessing heterogeneity......Page 49
   4.3.2 Measures of heterogeneity......Page 50
   4.3.3 Individual patient data meta-analysis......Page 52
   4.4.1 Funnel plots......Page 53
   4.4.3 If publication bias is suspected, what can be done?......Page 54
    The file drawer number......Page 55
 5 Applicability: returning to the question......Page 57
  Questions for Part 1......Page 59
Part 2 Question-specific methods......Page 63
   6.1.1 Study design......Page 65
   6.2.2 Finding published primary studies......Page 66
    What study features should we assess?......Page 67
    Summary table......Page 69
    Discrete events......Page 72
  6.5 Economic evaluation......Page 74
  6.6 Further information......Page 75
  Questions for Part 2: interventions......Page 76
  7.1 The question......Page 79
   7.2.1 Finding existing systematic reviews......Page 80
   7.2.3 Finding unpublished studies......Page 81
    What study features should we assess?......Page 82
    Graphical presentation......Page 83
   7.4.2 Synthesis of study results......Page 84
  Questions for Part 2: frequency......Page 85
  8.1 The question......Page 86
   8.2.1 Finding existing systematic reviews......Page 87
   8.2.2 Finding published primary studies......Page 88
   8.2.3 Finding unpublished primary studies......Page 89
    What study features should we assess?......Page 90
    Quality......Page 91
    Applicability......Page 92
    Indirect measures......Page 94
    Graphical presentation......Page 95
    Fit a summary ROC (SROC)......Page 97
  Questions for Part 2: diagnostic tests......Page 99
  9.1 The question......Page 102
   9.2.2 Finding published primary studies......Page 103
   9.2.3 Finding unpublished primary studies......Page 104
    What study features should we assess?......Page 105
    Summary table......Page 107
   9.4.2 Synthesis of study results......Page 108
   9.4.3 Assessing heterogeneity......Page 110
  Questions for Part 2: aetiology and risk......Page 111
   10.1.1 Why should we be interested in prediction?......Page 114
   10.2.1 Finding existing systematic reviews......Page 115
    What study features should we assess?......Page 116
   10.4.1 Presenting the results of the studies......Page 117
   10.4.3 Assessing heterogeneity......Page 118
Appendixes......Page 119
  Finding existing systematic reviews......Page 121
  Finding randomized trials......Page 123
  PubMed clinical queries using research methodology filters......Page 124
   RevMan......Page 126
   SCHARP......Page 127
   MetAxis......Page 128
Glossary......Page 129
Acronyms and abbreviations......Page 138
References......Page 139
Index......Page 145