Systematic Review

This course introduces the methods of systematic review and meta-analysis, including formulating questions, criteria for relevance and rigor in selecting primary studies, search strategies, coding protocols, tables and other formats for presenting data, qualitative and quantitative representations of effect sizes from individual primary studies, and analyses of groups of studies to estimate an average effect size and to explain variation. Each student works on his/her own project with the goal of producing a complete proposal/protocol and taking preliminary steps in all phases of the systematic review process. This course will include A STATA-based workshop in meta-analysis. The course will also provide an overview of evidence-based medicine and evidence-based public health practice.