LLUH Center for Evidence Synthesis

Objectives for Module 2:  Synthesizing Quantitative Evidence for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses

Prepares healthcare researchers, clinicians, academics, graduate students, and policy makers to develop, conduct, and report systematic reviews/meta-analyses from quantitative evidence. Reviews quantitative research designs and increases understanding of critical appraisal; covers new evidence-based statistical techniques. Practice using additional advanced search techniques and critical appraisal tools to find and distill evidence to answer clinical questions. Guidance provided while participants create protocols to conduct quantitative systematic reviews. Sixteen hours of instruction

1. Differentiate types of quantitative research and study designs including experimental, observational and descriptive studies.
2. Implement key principles involved in critical appraisal, data extraction and data analysis of the different research designs used in quantitative primary studies.
3. Present findings and results of your review using key principles involved in interpreting those results and establishing confidence in the evidence.
4. Summarize reasons for using systematic reviews of effectiveness, prevalence/incidence, or etiology and risk.
5. Formulate a working draft of the quantitative systematic review protocol based on your chosen type of clinical question.