Systematic Reviews

Definition

• Systematic reviews are a method of reviewing data and results from research regarding a specific question in a standardized manner.
• They provide an objective and transparent overview of all evidence surrounding a particular question.

Purpose

• To make sense of various kinds of data.
• Help summarize and explain findings from multiple studies.

Process of Systematic Reviews

1. Define the Question

   • A specific research question is formulated.
   • An objective method for addressing this question is established.

2. Searching for Data

   • Relevant data is gathered from various sources (e.g., clinical trials).
   • Data sets are visualized as different shapes, representing different research studies.

3. Criteria for Inclusion

   • Only data that meets specific criteria is included to ensure reliability.
   • Criteria may include:
     • Quality of research
     • Relevance to the defined question

4. Information Extraction

   • Extract detailed information about the research, including:
     • Methodology used in the research
     • Participant demographics (e.g., number of participants)
     • Funding sources
     • Outcomes of the research

5. Quality Assessment

   • Extracted information is assessed against predetermined criteria to evaluate the quality of the research.

6. Data Combination

   • Data is combined using complex statistical methods to derive an overall result.
   • Visualization tools such as blobograms or forest plots are used to represent data.
     • The area defined by the research question can be divided into:
       • Positive Side (Yes)
       • Negative Side (No)

7. Confident Interpretation

   • The length of lines in visual representations indicates confidence:
     • Shorter line: more confident conclusion
     • Longer line: less focused and scattered data

8. Knowledge Visualization

   • Knowledge is represented as light:
     • Focused light = clearer understanding
     • Spread light = weaker evidence

9. Combined Results

   • The diamond in visualizations represents the combined results from all included data.
   • This combined result is considered more reliable due to the aggregation of data from multiple sources.

Conclusion

• Systematic reviews are a rigorous method for aggregating evidence, enhancing the reliability and clarity of conclusions drawn from multiple studies.