4-Literature and evidence synthesis (1).pptx

EDUCATIONAL

1. Literature Review & Evidence S ynthesis

2. Important terms Science: Systematic and intellectual inquiry about a phenomenon/reality through experimentation and observation . This is done through scientific method Scientific method : A set of orderly, systematic , procedures for acquiring dependable/believable information/evidence Evidence: the premise for action, policy and decision making that has been arrived at through scientific. Evidence is the gold standard of scientific truth Evidence-base: Information gathered that characterise what is known about a topic, typically from high quality studies Evidence based practice/policy: the integration of best research evidence with clinical expertise and patient preferences and values to inform clinical actions and policies

3. Note: It de-emphasizes decision making based on custom, authority or ritual while emphasizing identification of the best research Synthesis: Creating something new from separate elements Evidence synthesis: P rocess of summarizing the contents of original/primary research Systematic: Undertaken according to fixed plan or system or method Review : C ritical appraisal and analysis Systematic review: Review of existing research using explicit , accountable rigorous methods

4. Literature: Collection of published/unpublished materials on a research area Literature searching: Pr ocess of identifying published/unpublished items for inclusion within a review Literature review : Process of searching, critically appraising of published or unpublished literature, and reporting of findings based on the aims and objectives of the review Systematic search: Literature search that aims at comprehensiveness by applying ‘system/plan’ to finding evidence. Review process is transparent to, and reproducible by peers or research consumers

5. Critical appraisal: use explicit, transparent methods to assess data in published research Grey/gray literature: information produced by governments, business, and industry in electronic, and print formats not controlled by commercial publishing Search strategy: Plan for retrieval of information on a chosen topic. Screening/sifting/study selection: Using predetermined inclusion and exclusion criteria to examine the relevance of studies retrieved in the literature search, to identify those appropriate for inclusion in your review

6. Review protocol/proposal: a document compiled at the beginning of a review project that outlines the review topic, review questions and methods to be used in conducting the review Primary/empirical study: data from actual participants Secondary study/review: data from published articles Primary and secondary studies are complementary

7. Why synthesize/review evidence? Inform policy & practice : Evidence synthesis conducted for this purpose to judge both quantity and quality of existing evidence on a topic Inform new study: Existing evidence on a problem acts as a springboard from which the new study is developed and findings interpreted. What the current controversies and debates around the topic ? What approaches, methods have been adopted by previous studies ? W hat’s the extent of the problem? Its impacts?

8. What topics have been addressed by previous research? Where has the research been done (geographical location)? How have terms, concepts been defined and used within a particular field ?

9. What known/not known? And how what is known was investigated[ gaps in evidence/knowledge and methodological]. Inform funding: For some projects to resolve particular problems in society

10. Scholars before researchers We have to become scholars before becoming researchers ( Boote & Beile , 2005) Immersing yourself into what is currently known is the foundation of making a contribution to knowledge Missing jigsaw piece (research gap )

11. Types of reviews Classification is based primarily on T itle and purpose of the review Review methods adopted Nature of questions Resources available Reference: A typology of reviews: an analysis of 14 review types and associated methodologies (Grant and Booth, 2009) E.g. systematic reviews, meta-analysis, meta-synthesis, scoping reviews, rapid reviews

12. C haracteristics of a quality review Thorough and up-to-date Relies mainly on primary sources Critically appraisal and comparison of studies to identify important gaps in the literature? Organization and development of the written review Use appropriate language and objectivity If the review was in the introduction for a new study, did the review support the need for the study? If the review was designed to summarize evidence for clinical practice, did it draw appropriate conclusions about practice implications?

13. General stages of literature review /evidence synthesis Formulate review topic Formulate review questions Devise search strategy Search for, identify, and retrieve potential primary source materials Screen sources for relevance and appropriateness. Critically appraise selected studies Abstract, encode information from selected studies

14. Critique/evaluate the studies. Prepare synthesis/critical summary of the review

15. Sources of literature for a review Different sources, requiring different skills e.g. Internet search engines Bibliographies databases Library catalogues Directories Encyclopaedias Organisation/official websites University repositories

16. Subject-specific sources Database Subject coverage Medline, CINAHL, Cochrane database of systematic reviews Medicine, Nursing, dentistry & Allied Health Business Sources Premier Business research: Marketing, management, accounting, finance Computer and information systems abstracts Broad coverage Computer sciences

17. General sources Google-search engine Google scholar Web of science PubMed Global Health Websites of relevant organisations such as WHO [All], and others dealing with specific global issues such Food and Agriculture Organisation , W orld F ederation of Mental Health Note: Some are accessible by subscription while others are free

18. Constructing electronic search strategy Consult subject librarian/librarian Process: Define topic/research question Identify type of literature you are searching Identify sources to search Develop initial key words & free-text words Define filters/limits of search Pilot the search strategy on a database Adopt the strategy to functionalities of other databases Retrieve information

19. Boolean logic Includes: AND, OR, NOT Helps in specifying how search terms will relate with one another Are linking/combining search terms AND: All search terms must appear in the search results. It narrows the search OR: any of the search terms must appear in the search results. It expands the search. Synonyms usually combined using OR NOT: Excludes search terms. Use cautiously not to eliminate relevant terms

20. Other advanced search operators NOTE: The use is database-specific Wildcard symbol e.g. [?]: help with searching alternative spelling of a word Truncation symbols: ?, $ or asterix (*). Usually put at end of a word or middle to capture different spellings and endings E.g. Child* retrieves: child, children, childhood, childish E.g. Leuk?emia retrieves: leukaemia or leukemia Quotation Marks: “…….”: search papers with exact phrase

21. A n example Key words/concepts Search terms constipation Constip*, def?ecation, bowel function$, bowel habit$, bowel movement Older people Patient$, eldely people, geriatric$, older adult$, older person$ Treatment Class suggestions Study topic: A study on treatment of constipation in older people

22. Database familiarisation Familiarise yourself with each database during construction of the strategy and before starting to search Refer to ‘Help section’ of each database/search engine

23. Searching the literature The aim is not to identify every resource related to the topic but the most relevant resources This requires judgement based on the general/basic knowledge about the topic e.g. databases that index articles on certain topic Discussion with other people in the field may help in this initial stage Research supervisors, colleagues may be helpful in helping starting the search

24. Stages in searching literature Identify set of search terms and develop search strategy for one source e.g. database [based on review questions] Deciding on most appropriate sources of information e.g. databases, websites etc. Search for, identify, and retrieve potential primary source materials Revise search strategy if necessary, and replicate into other information sources considering their unique functionalities If searching literature to inform new study, the main aim is to expose gaps in evidence on the topic and identify debates, discussion around the topic Also, the search should illuminate on the status of evidence on the topic as well as the methods and approaches that have been used by other researchers in the research area.

25. Search terms and strategy Clarity in what you are searching saves time because you eliminate retrieval of so much irrelevant information [review topic and question clarity] Develop search terms from general to specific such that you don’t became too precise at the beginning of the search. Starting by identifying keywords or concepts related to your review questions For each keyword/concept, identify synonyms, spelling variations, abbreviations, plurals, prefixes(prenatal and pre-natal ) For example use ‘thesaurus’ feature

26. Demonstration Class demonstrations using ‘Google scholar’

27. Information management The use of a reference manager in evidence synthesis is a necessity, not an option Eg Zotero , Mendeley

28. THANK YOU

29. Q & A session

30. Student support SON p ostgraduate coordinator: Dr Collins Asweto Supervisors Library staffs: Jonathan Saina & John Ndege have been officially allocated to MPH students by Mr Njue following a request Colleagues within and without UoE