Introduction to Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis

The introductory course on systematic reviews and meta-analyses is an online course offered twice a year through the Dalla Lana School of Public Health at the University of Toronto and the Knowledge Translation Program of St. Michael’s Hospital. It is co-taught by Sharon Straus (MD, MSc) and Andrea Tricco (MSc, PhD). The overall course objective is to teach about systematic reviews in general, as well as how to go about doing a systematic review.

It is recommended that the students conduct a systematic review while taking this course, as the information provided with help guide the systematic review process.

The course will cover 18 modules in total. Each module consists of a video presentation, 3-5 mandatory readings, optional readings, and a mandatory quiz. In addition, there are two assignments related to developing a systematic review question and protocol. The students will have three months to complete the course and the course instructors will provide high-level methodological support for the review, including a consultation with an experienced librarian and a consultation with an experienced biostatistician (if meta-analysis is being considered).

Each module takes 3.5-5 hours to complete. The assignments take approximately 10 and 20 hours, respectively, depending on whether you are using an existing project or starting a new one.

 

Topics include:

  • Different types of evidence that can be synthesized
  • How to formulate a review question
  • How to develop a review protocol
  • How to abstract data
  • How to perform a meta-analysis

Please contact us for information on how to register.