Doctoral School

Systematic review by Cochrane Belgium

Target Group

PhD researchers within the field of medicine and healthcare, planning or interested in performing a high-quality (Cochrane) systematic review in the (near) future.

Abstract

Systematic reviews are key elements in evidence-based healthcare. These literature reviews answer clearly defined questions, with explicit methods to identify, select, critically appraise, analyze and report data. This systematic approach distinguishes high-quality systematic reviews from traditional, so-called narrative, reviews and low-quality systematic reviews.

Cochrane is an international non-profit organization that produces and disseminates trusted systematic reviews, and advocate for its use (www.cochrane.org). The focus of Cochrane is on systematic reviews of research in health care and health policy. The Cochrane methodology is considered the gold standard in systematic review development. Cochrane Belgium provides guidance and support to researchers interested in performing a systematic review. 

Objectives

This 3-day course focuses on systematic reviews of interventions. It will teach you all about the different steps to take to perform a high-quality, methodologically sound and reliable systematic review. This hands-on course consists of plenary sessions and workshops on:

  • Writing your review protocol
  • Searching for studies
  • Selecting studies and collecting data
  • Introduction to risk of bias of randomized controlled trials
  • Analyzing the data and meta-analysis
  • Interpreting the findings and GRADE

The course, taught by experienced review experts, is filled with workshops and exercises, thus preparing you to get started immediately on your own systematic review.
For more information, visit the Cochrane Belgium website (http://belgium.cochrane.org/en/) or contact the team at .

Programme

Day 1                       

 Description                                                                                                                
09.00 – 10.00 1. Introduction to the course and the Cochrane collaboration; what is a (Cochrane) Systematic review & how do you start?
10.00 – 10.30

2. Workshop formulating your question
10.30 - 10.50 Break
10.50 - 11.25 3. Writing the protocol for your systematic review:
11.25 - 12.05 4. Searching for studies
12.05 - 12.50 Lunch break
12.50 - 13.50 5. Workshop building your search strategy
13.50 - 14.00 6. Selecting studies
14.00 - 14.40 7. Workshop selecting studies
14.40 - 15.00 Break
15.00 - 15.30 8. Introduction to Cochrane Crowd
15.30 - 16.45 9. Workshop text, comparisons and data in RevMan

Day 2
09.00 - 10.00 1. Assessment risk of bias RCTs: RoB 2
10.00 - 10.55 2. Workshop assessment risk of bias (RoB2)
10.55 - 11.15 Coffee break
11.15 – 11.35 3. Collecting data
11.35 - 12.15 4. Workshop collecting data
12.15 – 13.00    Lunch break
13.00 - 14.30 5. Analyzing dichotomous and continuous data. Introducing meta-analysis
14.30 - 14.50 Break
14.50 - 16.30 6. Workshop meta-analysis

Day 3
9.00 - 10.30 1. Heterogeneity, publication bias
10.30 - 10.50 Break
10.45 - 12.00 2. Workshop heterogeneity
12.00 - 12.30 3. SWiM reporting guidelines: Synthesis Without Meta-analysis in SR
12.30 - 13.15 Lunch break
13.15 - 14.10 4. GRADE
14.10 - 14.40 5a. Workshop GRADE for intervention studies (part 1)
14.40 - 15.00 Break
15.00 - 15.40 5b. Workshop GRADE for intervention studies (part 2)
15.40 - 16.20 6. Reporting and updating the review
16.20 - 16.30 Time for questions and feedback

 

Time and Venue

Time Venue
15-17 April 2024 Leslokaal 0.5, Campus Ledeganck

Registration

  • Please follow this link for the registration and waiting list. We check if you are eligible to participate. Due to limited places, we give priority to PhD students. Your registration will be confirmed by separate e-mail (outlook invite).

  • Cancellation of your registration can only be performed by sending an email to doctoralschools@ugent.be.

  • The no show policy applies.

  • Researchers affiliated to another Flemish University than Ghent University can register via their Doctoral School. 

Registration fee

Free of charge for Doctoral School members. 

Number of participants

33

Language

English

Evaluation methods and criteria (doctoral training programme)

100 % participation

After successful participation, the Doctoral School Office will add this course to your curriculum of the Doctoral Training Programme in Oasis. Please note that this can take up to one to two months after completion of the course.