Eligibility Criteria - Dr. Mohammed Merzah

Unlock the key to conducting robust systematic reviews with our comprehensive slides on "Eligibility Criteria." This presentation covers:

1) The importance of defining clear eligibility criteria
2) Types of eligibility criteria (e.g., population, intervention, comparison, outcomes, study design)
3) Steps to develop and refine criteria
4) Common challenges and how to address them
5) Practical examples and case studies

Whether you're a novice researcher or an experienced practitioner, these slides provide essential insights to enhance the rigor and transparency of your systematic review process. Join us in mastering the foundational elements of systematic reviews and elevating your research quality.

1. Framework for Eligibility
Criteria for Systematic
Review
Dr. Mohammed Merzah
31
st
July, 2024

2. What is the most suitable definition of a systematic
review?
A.A narrative summary of research studies on a particular topic, based on
the author's perspective and interpretation.
B.A comprehensive analysis and synthesis of research studies on a specific
topic, following a structured and predefined methodology to minimize bias.
C. A brief overview of recent studies on a specific topic, providing a
summary of their findings without a strict methodology.
D. An opinion-based article that discusses various research studies on a
topic, without necessarily following a rigorous methodology.

3. Introduction
•The EC define which
studies will be
included or excluded
based on several
predefined
parameters
•An EC framework for
a SR is crucialfor
ensuring that the
review is:
Comprehensive
Unbiased
Relevant

4. Importance of EC
Purpose
•To ensure
•consistency
•transparency
•and reproducibility.
Benefits
•To enhances the qualityof the review by minimizing bias and ensuring the
inclusion of relevantstudies.

5. PICO Framework
•PICO/ PECO Components:
•Population: Characteristics of
participants.
•Intervention: Types of interventions
or Exposures.
•Comparison: Comparators or
control conditions.
•Outcome: Outcomes of interest.
P: Adults aged 30-60 with hypertension.
I: Use of antihypertensive drugs.
C: Placebo or no treatment.
O: Reduction in systolic and diastolic blood
pressure.

6. Defining the Population
Considerations: Age, gender, ethnicity, health status, and other demographic
factors.
Social Sciences:
•Inclusion: Adolescents
aged 12-18 from urban
schools.
•Exclusion: Adolescents
from rural or suburban
schools.
Agriculture:
•Inclusion: Wheat crops
in temperate climates.
•Exclusion: Wheat crops
grown in controlled
greenhouse
environments.
Life sciences
•Inclusion: studies on
adults aged 18-65with
T2D
•Exclusion: studies on
children and
adolescents.

7. Specifying Interventions and Comparisons
•Interventions: Types, dosages, duration of interventions.
•Comparisons: Placebo, standard care, other interventions.
•I: Implementation of anti-bullying programs in schools.
•C: General school wellness programs not focused on
bullying
Social Sciences
•I: Use of organic fertilizers on crop yield.
•C: Use of synthetic fertilizers or pesticides.
Agriculture
•I: Drug A administered at 50mg daily.
•C:Placebo or another antihypertensive drug.
Medical
sciences

8. Determining Outcomes
•Types of Outcomes:
•Primary and secondary outcomes, short-term vs. long-term outcomes.
•Measuring Outcomes: How outcomes are measured and reported.
Agriculture
•Inclusion: Crop yield per hectare. (SO: Income Levels, Cost of production)
•Exclusion: Soil nutrient levels without direct crop yield data.
Social Sciences
•Inclusion: Reduction in reported bullying incidents.
•Exclusion: General student satisfaction surveys.
Medical sciences
•Primary Outcome: Reduction in HbA1c levels.
•Secondary Outcomes: Changes in body weight, blood pressure, and cholesterol levels.

9. Study Designs
•RCTs, cohort studies, case-control studies, etc.-
Agriculture
•Inclusion: Field trials comparing crop varieties.
•Exclusion: Laboratory-based studies on plant.
Social Sciences
•Inclusion: Longitudinal studies on the impact of parental involvement on academic
achievement.
•Exclusion: Cross-sectional surveys.
Medical sciences
•Including only RCTs.

10. Setting and Context
•Settings: Clinical, community, or laboratory settings.
•Geographic Location: Inclusion of studies from specific regions or countries.
Agriculture
•Inclusion: Open-field agricultural settings in Europe.
•Exclusion: Controlled laboratory or greenhouse settings
Social Sciences
•Inclusion: Public schools in metropolitan areas.
•Exclusion: Private or charter schools.
Medical sciences
•Including studies conducted in hospital settings in North America to ensure relevance to
the target healthcare system.

11. Time Frame
•Publication Date:
•Time period within which studies were published.
•Example:
•Studies published from 2010 to 2020.
•Studies published in the last 15 years
•Follow-Up Duration:
•Minimum follow-up period required for studies.
•Example:
•At least 6 months follow-up for assessing long-term effects

12. Language and Publication Type
•Language Restrictions:
•Including studies published in specific languages.
•Example:
•Including only peer-reviewed articles published in English to ensure quality and accessibility.
•Publication Type:
•Peer-reviewed articles, dissertations, conference abstracts, etc.
•Example:
•Inclusion: Articles published in peer-reviewed journals.
•Exclusion: Conference abstracts and non-peer-reviewed articles.

13. •Develop a Protocol:
•Document the EC in a SR protocol before beginning the review.
•Pilot Testing:
•Test the EC on a sample of studies to ensure they are appropriate and feasible.
•Selection Process:
•Use the criteria consistently during the study selection process ( involving 2/more
independent reviewers).
•Documentation:
•Keep detailed records of the reasons for inclusion or exclusion of each study to maintain
transparency and reproducibility.
Practical Steps to Implement the Framework

14. Tools and Frameworks
•Medical, health, and life sciences
•PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses)
•Cochrane Handbook for Systematic Reviews of Interventions

15. •Agriculture
•PHPP (Effective Public Health Practice Project) Quality Assessment Tool for
Quantitative Studies
•CABI (Centre for Agriculture and Bioscience International) Review Protocols
Tools and Frameworks

16. •Social Sciences
•Cross-Disciplinary Tools
Tools and Frameworks

17. Why is an eligibility criteria framework crucial for a
systematic review?
A. It helps in summarizing the research findings without any specific
structure.
B. It facilitates the narrative description of the research studies based on
the author's perspective.
C. It provides a broad overview of the topic without focusing on specific
research questions.
D. It allows for the selection of studies based on predefined criteria,
ensuring consistency and reducing bias.

18. "If you want to learn how to conduct a systematic review, get involved
in one.“
"Seek opportunities, volunteer, or start your own."

19. Feel free to reach me on my Linkedinpage
https://www.linkedin.com/in/mohammed-merzah-189a5449/
Additionally, you may join my LinkedIn group to find
co-authors
https://www.linkedin.com/groups/9156184/