Conducting a Systematic Review: a practical guide (online)

The aim of the course is to equip participants with an understanding of the systematic review process and an introduction to the skills necessary to conduct a review.

The course is practical and highly interactive with a range of discussion, group and hands-on sessions. It is envisaged that participants will come to the course with a research topic and leave with a draft protocol for their systematic review.

Please note: bookings for this course will close on 2 April.

Who it’s for

This course is tailored to:

• postgraduate healthcare researchers
• healthcare professionals
• policy makers
• information specialists and librarians

Cardiff University staff and NISCHR Portfolio researchers may be eligible for a reduced course fee of £500. Please contact Mala Mann at mannmk@cardiff.ac.uk before booking.

What you’ll learn

By the end of the course, you should be able to:

• develop a focused question
• identify the evidence to answer that question
• assess the quality/validity of the identified evidence
• decide what form of evidence synthesis is most appropriate
• present and tabulate results
• present the result to meet the needs of clinicians and other researchers
• develop a strategy to publicise the results

Topics covered

• steps to developing a focused research question
• identifying the literature
• selecting, appraising and extracting studies
• meta-analysis or narrative synthesis
• report writing and dissemination

Benefits

• interactive skills development.
• come with a topic.
• leave with an outline protocol.
• tutors with extensive systemic review experience

Teaching and useful information

This is a virtual course which will comprise of 4 half-day sessions (mornings) that will be tutor led. There will be lots of breaks scheduled  and plenty opportunities for independent study during the afternoons.

During those afternoons, at your own pace and convenience, you will be able to put into practice what you have learnt and work on your specific systematic review questions, searches, as well as help with the critical appraisal practical activities. There will be optional 1:1 tutor support slots that you will be able to sign up to during the afternoons to facilitate your independent study activities.

We will confirm timings, provide learning materials, and other information (such as login details) in the two weeks leading up to your course. You will not need any equipment except for a computer with good internet connection and a camera function, and the ability to sign into Zoom.