Designing a Systematic Review

Required Reading:

1. Bent S, Shojania, K, Saint, S. The use of systematic reviews and meta-analyses in infection control and hospital epidemiology. Am J Infect Control. 2004 June:32(4):246-254.

Optional Reading:

1. Chapters 2,3,4, & 5 in Systematic Reviews in Health Care. Editors Egger, Smith, Altman. BMJ Publishing Group, 2001.
2. Moher D et al. Improving the quality of reports of meta-analyses of randomized controlled trials: the QUORUM statement. Lancet. 1999;354:1896-900.
3. Stroup DF et al. Meta-analysis of Observational Studies in Epidemiology: a Proposal for Reporting. JAMA. 2000;283:208-212. (describes standards for conducting and reporting systematic reviews of observational studies).
4. Jadad AR et al. Assessing the Quality of Reports of Randomized Controlled Clinical Trials: Is Blinding Necessary? Controlled Clinical Trials. 1996;17:1-12.
5. Hayden JA et al. Evaluation of the quality of prognostic studies in systematic reviews. Annals of Internal Medicine. 2006;144:427-437.

Note/Slide Files: Lecture_1.pdf (1290 KB) Lecture_1_2009.doc (101 KB)

Section: Developing a Protocol for Systematic Review

Required Reading:

1. Two articles labeled A, B

Note/Slide Files: Section_1_2009.doc (29 KB)

Meta-analysis

Optional Reading:

1. Egger M, Davey Smith G, Altman D. Systematic reviews in health care: Meta-analysis in context. Chapters 15-17
2. Egger M, Ebrahim S, Smith GD. Where now for meta-analysis? International Journal of Epidemiology. 2002;31:1-5. (perspective on future directions in the field)
3. Shapiro S. Point/Counterpoint: Meta-analysis of observational studies: meta-analysis/shmeta-analysis. American Journal of Epidemiology. 1994;140:771-778. (perspective on meta-analysis of observational studies)
4. Shrier I, Platt RW, Steele RJ. Mega-trials vs. meta-analysis: Precision vs. heterogeneity? Contemporary Clinical Trials. 2007;28:324–328 (discussion of pros and cons of meta-analysis versus mega-trials)
5. Moher D, Schulz KF, Altman DG. The CONSORT Statement: Revised Recommendations for Improving theQuality of Reports of Parallel-Group Randomized Trials. Annals of Internal Medicine. 2001;134:657-62. (describes standards for conducting and reporting randomized controlled trials).
6. Alder et al. Meta-analysis of mortality and cancer incidence among workers in the synthetic rubber-producing industry. American Journal of Epidemiology. 2006;164:405-420. (an example of a systematic review of observational studies).

Note/Slide Files: Hazards_of_quality_scoring.pdf (119 KB) Lecture_2.ppt (2788 KB) Lecture_2_2009.doc (29 KB)

Section: Performing a Meta-analysis

Note/Slide Files: Section_2_2009.doc (93 KB)

Dataset Files: hw02-1.dta (1 KB) hw02-2.dta (2 KB)

Advanced Topics

Required Reading:

1. Egger M, Davey Smith G, Altman D. Systematic reviews in health care: Meta-analysis in context. Chapters 15-16

Optional Reading:

1. Leeflang MMG, Deeks JJ, Gatsonis C, Bossuyt PMM. Systematic reviews of diagnostic test accuracy. Ann Int Med. 2008;149:889-897.

Note/Slide Files: Lecture_3.ppt (2934 KB) Lecture_3_2009.doc (29 KB)

Final Exam Files: SR_EXAM_2009.doc (38 KB)

Section: Evaluating a Systematic Review

Required Reading:

1. Rowe et al. Annals of Emergency Medicine. 2000;36:181-190.
2. Alter et al. Annals of Emergency Medicine. 2000;36;191-197.

Note/Slide Files: Section_3_2009.doc (33 KB)