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Gutierrez-Arias R, Pieper D, Lunny C, Torres-Castro R, Aguilera-Eguía R, Oliveros MJ, Seron P. Only half of the authors of overviews of exercise-related interventions use some strategy to manage overlapping primary studies-a metaresearch study. J Clin Epidemiol 2024; 170:111328. [PMID: 38513993 DOI: 10.1016/j.jclinepi.2024.111328] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/06/2023] [Revised: 03/10/2024] [Accepted: 03/14/2024] [Indexed: 03/23/2024]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES The conduct of systematic reviews (SRs) and overviews share several similarities. However, because the unit of analysis for overviews is the SRs, there are some unique challenges. One of the most critical issues to manage when conducting an overview is the overlap of data across the primary studies included in the SRs. This metaresearch study aimed to describe the frequency of strategies to manage the overlap in overviews of exercise-related interventions. STUDY DESIGN AND SETTING A systematic search in MEDLINE (Ovid), Embase (Ovid), Cochrane Library, Epistemonikos, and other sources was conducted from inception to June 2022. We included overviews of SRs that considered primary studies and evaluated the effectiveness of exercise-related interventions for any health condition. The overviews were screened by two authors independently, and the extraction was performed by one author and checked by a second. We found 353 overviews published between 2005 and 2022 that met the inclusion criteria. RESULTS One hundred and sixty-four overviews (46%) used at least one strategy to visualize, quantify, or resolve overlap, with a matrix (32/164; 20%), absolute frequency (34/164; 21%), and authors' algorithms (24/164; 15%) being the most used methods, respectively. From 2016 onwards, there has been a trend toward increasing the use of some strategies to manage overlap. Of the 108 overviews that used some strategy to resolve the overlap, ie, avoiding double or multiple counting of primary study data, 79 (73%) succeeded. In overviews where no strategies to manage overlap were reported (n = 189/353; 54%), 16 overview authors (8%) recognized this as a study limitation. CONCLUSION Although there is a trend toward increasing its use, only half of the authors of the overviews of exercise-related interventions used a strategy to visualize, quantify, or resolve overlap in the primary studies' data. In the future, authors should report such strategies to communicate more valid results.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ruvistay Gutierrez-Arias
- Department of Pediatrics, Obstetrics and Gynecology, Preventive Medicine and Public Health, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain; Departamento de Apoyo en Rehabilitación Cardiopulmonar Integral, Instituto Nacional del Tórax, Santiago, Chile; Exercise and Rehabilitation Sciences Institute, Faculty of Rehabilitation Sciences, Universidad Andres Bello, Santiago, 7591538, Chile; INTRehab Research Group, Instituto Nacional del Tórax, Santiago, Chile.
| | - Dawid Pieper
- Faculty of Health Sciences Brandenburg, Brandenburg Medical School (Theodor Fontane), Institute for Health Services and Health Systems Research, Rüdersdorf, Germany; Center for Health Services Research, Brandenburg Medical School (Theodor Fontane), Rüdersdorf, Germany
| | - Carole Lunny
- Knowledge Translation Program, Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada
| | | | - Raúl Aguilera-Eguía
- Departamento de Salud Pública, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Católica de la Santísima Concepción, Concepción, Chile
| | - Maria-Jose Oliveros
- Universidad de La Frontera, Facultad de Medicina, Departamento de Ciencias de la Rehabilitación & CIGES, Temuco, Chile
| | - Pamela Seron
- Universidad de La Frontera, Facultad de Medicina, Departamento de Ciencias de la Rehabilitación & CIGES, Temuco, Chile
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Oizumi R, Sugimoto Y, Aibara H. The Potential of Exercise on Lifestyle and Skin Function: Narrative Review. JMIR Dermatol 2024; 7:e51962. [PMID: 38483460 PMCID: PMC10979338 DOI: 10.2196/51962] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/18/2023] [Revised: 01/24/2024] [Accepted: 02/06/2024] [Indexed: 04/01/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The skin is an important organ of the human body and has moisturizing and barrier functions. Factors such as sunlight and lifestyle significantly affect these skin functions, with sunlight being extremely damaging. The effects of lifestyle habits such as smoking, diet, and sleep have been studied extensively. It has been found that smoking increases the risk of wrinkles, while excessive fat and sugar intake leads to skin aging. Lack of sleep and stress are also dangerous for the skin's barrier function. In recent years, the impact of exercise habits on skin function has been a focus of study. Regular exercise is associated with increased blood flow to the skin, elevated skin temperature, and improved skin moisture. Furthermore, it has been shown to improve skin structure and rejuvenate its appearance, possibly through promoting mitochondrial biosynthesis and affecting hormone secretion. Further research is needed to understand the effects of different amounts and content of exercise on the skin. OBJECTIVE This study aims to briefly summarize the relationship between lifestyle and skin function and the mechanisms that have been elucidated so far and introduce the expected effects of exercise on skin function. METHODS We conducted a review of the literature using PubMed and Google Scholar repositories for relevant literature published between 2000 and 2022 with the following keywords: exercise, skin, and life habits. RESULTS Exercise augments the total spectrum power density of cutaneous blood perfusion by a factor of approximately 8, and vasodilation demonstrates an enhancement of approximately 1.5-fold. Regular exercise can also mitigate age-related skin changes by promoting mitochondrial biosynthesis. However, not all exercise impacts are positive; for instance, swimming in chlorinated pools may harm the skin barrier function. Hence, the exercise environment should be considered for its potential effects on the skin. CONCLUSIONS This review demonstrates that exercise can potentially enhance skin function retention.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ryosuke Oizumi
- Faculty of Nursing, Shijonawate gakuen University, Daito-shi, Japan
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Barnes B, Buchmann M, Mumm R, Nowossadeck E, Peitz D, Prütz F, Wachtler B, Wienecke A. [Evidence syntheses in public health: An overview]. Z Evid Fortbild Qual Gesundhwes 2022; 175:17-28. [PMID: 36335008 DOI: 10.1016/j.zefq.2022.09.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/16/2022] [Revised: 08/11/2022] [Accepted: 09/07/2022] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, there has been a high demand for rapid evidence syntheses to answer urgent public health questions. This article provides an overview of different types of reviews for public health questions and a synthesis of existing recommendations for the preparation of reviews. The aim is to support the planning of one's own review and the critical evaluation of published reviews. METHODS The basis of this summary is an extensive search for guidelines and recommendations for different review types. Furthermore, internal journal clubs were held to determine knowledge needs and to critically discuss the various review types. Relating to the dissemination of results, fact sheets were developed for the individual review types including the most important information, prerequisites and work steps, as well as a decision tree for identifying the appropriate review type for the respective question. RESULTS Of the review types identified, Systematic, Rapid, Scoping, Umbrella, and Narrative Reviews were considered in more detail because they are particularly relevant to public health issues. Together with scoping and umbrella reviews, systematic reviews have the highest resource requirements due to the demands for extensive, systematic evidence synthesis and reproducibility. Rapid methods can accelerate the review process, for example by a very narrowly formulated question, a limited literature search, or the execution of certain steps by one instead of two persons. DISCUSSION Systematic Reviews may be considered as the gold standard, but they were developed primarily for clinical questions relating to interventions. This article, however, focusses on review types that consider the diversity of questions as well as the predominant use of quantitative methods in the field of public health. The fact sheets developed and the decision tree should enable low-threshold access to reviews while linking the perspectives of research and resource planning. They complement existing guidelines and recommendations. CONCLUSION To answer the diverse spectrum of public health questions, various types of reviews with various requirements and approaches are available. Given this diversity, a systematic introduction can be helpful for researchers planning or assessing a review.
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Lunny C, Pieper D, Thabet P, Kanji S. Managing overlap of primary study results across systematic reviews: practical considerations for authors of overviews of reviews. BMC Med Res Methodol 2021; 21:140. [PMID: 34233615 PMCID: PMC8265144 DOI: 10.1186/s12874-021-01269-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 52] [Impact Index Per Article: 17.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/12/2021] [Accepted: 04/05/2021] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Overviews often identify and synthesise a large number of systematic reviews on the same topic, which is likely to lead to overlap (i.e. duplication) in primary studies across the reviews. Using a primary study result multiple times in the same analysis overstates its sample size and number of events, falsely leading to greater precision in the analysis. This paper aims to: (a) describe types of overlapping data that arise from the same primary studies reported across multiple reviews, (b) describe methods to identify and explain overlap of primary study data, and (c) present six case studies illustrating different approaches to manage overlap. METHODS We first updated the search in PubMed for methods from the MOoR framework relating to overlap of primary studies. One author screened the studies titles and abstracts, and any full-text articles retrieved, extracted methods data relating to overlap of primary studies and mapped it to the overlap methods from the MOoR framework. We also describe six case studies as examples of overviews that use specific overlap methods across the steps in the conduct of an overview. For each case study, we discuss potential methodological implications in terms of limitations, efficiency, usability, and resource use. RESULTS Nine methods studies were found and mapped to the methods identified by the MOoR framework to address overlap. Overlap methods were mapped across four steps in the conduct of an overview - the eligibility criteria step, the data extraction step, the assessment of risk of bias step, and the synthesis step. Our overview case studies used multiple methods to reduce overlap at different steps in the conduct of an overview. CONCLUSIONS Our study underlines that there is currently no standard methodological approach to deal with overlap in primary studies across reviews. The level of complexity when dealing with overlap can vary depending on the yield, trends and patterns of the included literature and the scope of the overview question. Choosing a method might be dependent on the number of included reviews and their primary studies. Gaps in evaluation of methods to address overlap were found and further investigation in this area is needed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carole Lunny
- Cochrane Hypertension Group and the Therapeutics Initiative, Department of Anesthesiology, Pharmacology and Therapeutics, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada
| | - Dawid Pieper
- Institute for Research in Operative Medicine, Witten/Herdecke University, Cologne, Germany
| | | | - Salmaan Kanji
- The Ottawa Hospital and Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, Ottawa, Canada
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Biesty L, Meskell P, Glenton C, Delaney H, Smalle M, Booth A, Chan XHS, Devane D, Houghton C. A QuESt for speed: rapid qualitative evidence syntheses as a response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Syst Rev 2020; 9:256. [PMID: 33148320 PMCID: PMC7640992 DOI: 10.1186/s13643-020-01512-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/26/2020] [Accepted: 10/26/2020] [Indexed: 01/16/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The COVID-19 pandemic has created a sense of urgency in the research community in their bid to contribute to the evidence required for healthcare policy decisions. With such urgency, researchers experience methodological challenges to maintain the rigour and transparency of their work. With this in mind, we offer reflections on our recent experience of undertaking a rapid Cochrane qualitative evidence synthesis (QES). METHODS This process paper, using a reflexive approach, describes a rapid QES prepared during, and in response to, the COVID-19 pandemic. FINDINGS This paper reports the methodological decisions we made and the process we undertook. We place our decisions in the context of guidance offered in relation to rapid reviews and previously conducted QESs. We highlight some of the challenges we encountered in finding the balance between the time needed for thoughtfulness and comprehensiveness whilst providing a rapid response to an urgent request for evidence. CONCLUSION The need for more guidance on rapid QES remains, but such guidance needs to be based on actual worked examples and case studies. This paper and the reflections offered may provide a useful framework for others to use and further develop.
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Affiliation(s)
- Linda Biesty
- Evidence Synthesis Ireland, National University of Ireland Galway, Galway, Ireland.
- Qualitative Research in Trials Centre, National University of Ireland Galway, Galway, Ireland.
- School of Nursing and Midwifery, Aras Moyola, National University of Ireland Galway, 26 Upper Newcastle, Galway, H91 E3YV, Ireland.
| | - Pauline Meskell
- Evidence Synthesis Ireland, National University of Ireland Galway, Galway, Ireland
- Qualitative Research in Trials Centre, National University of Ireland Galway, Galway, Ireland
- Health Research Institute, University of Limerick, Limerick, Ireland
- Department of Nursing and Midwifery, University of Limerick, Limerick, Ireland
| | | | - Hannah Delaney
- School of Nursing and Midwifery, Aras Moyola, National University of Ireland Galway, 26 Upper Newcastle, Galway, H91 E3YV, Ireland
- School of Nursing and Midwifery, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Mike Smalle
- James Hardiman Library, National University of Ireland Galway, Galway, Ireland
| | - Andrew Booth
- School of Health and Related Research, ScHARR, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, UK
| | - Xin Hui S Chan
- Centre for Tropical Medicine and Global Health, Nuffield Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
- Hospital for Tropical Diseases, London, UK
| | - Declan Devane
- Evidence Synthesis Ireland, National University of Ireland Galway, Galway, Ireland
- School of Nursing and Midwifery, Aras Moyola, National University of Ireland Galway, 26 Upper Newcastle, Galway, H91 E3YV, Ireland
- Cochrane Ireland, National University of Ireland Galway, Galway, Ireland
- HRB-Trials Methodology Research Network, National University of Ireland Galway, Galway, Ireland
| | - Catherine Houghton
- Evidence Synthesis Ireland, National University of Ireland Galway, Galway, Ireland
- Qualitative Research in Trials Centre, National University of Ireland Galway, Galway, Ireland
- School of Nursing and Midwifery, Aras Moyola, National University of Ireland Galway, 26 Upper Newcastle, Galway, H91 E3YV, Ireland
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Goossen K, Hess S, Lunny C, Pieper D. Database combinations to retrieve systematic reviews in overviews of reviews: a methodological study. BMC Med Res Methodol 2020; 20:138. [PMID: 32487023 PMCID: PMC7268249 DOI: 10.1186/s12874-020-00983-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/11/2019] [Accepted: 04/20/2020] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Background When conducting an Overviews of Reviews on health-related topics, it is unclear which combination of bibliographic databases authors should use for searching for SRs. Our goal was to determine which databases included the most systematic reviews and identify an optimal database combination for searching systematic reviews. Methods A set of 86 Overviews of Reviews with 1219 included systematic reviews was extracted from a previous study. Inclusion of the systematic reviews was assessed in MEDLINE, CINAHL, Embase, Epistemonikos, PsycINFO, and TRIP. The mean inclusion rate (% of included systematic reviews) and corresponding 95% confidence interval were calculated for each database individually, as well as for combinations of MEDLINE with each other database and reference checking. Results Inclusion of systematic reviews was higher in MEDLINE than in any other single database (mean inclusion rate 89.7%; 95% confidence interval [89.0–90.3%]). Combined with reference checking, this value increased to 93.7% [93.2–94.2%]. The best combination of two databases plus reference checking consisted of MEDLINE and Epistemonikos (99.2% [99.0–99.3%]). Stratification by Health Technology Assessment reports (97.7% [96.5–98.9%]) vs. Cochrane Overviews (100.0%) vs. non-Cochrane Overviews (99.3% [99.1–99.4%]) showed that inclusion was only slightly lower for Health Technology Assessment reports. However, MEDLINE, Epistemonikos, and reference checking remained the best combination. Among the 10/1219 systematic reviews not identified by this combination, five were published as websites rather than journals, two were included in CINAHL and Embase, and one was included in the database ERIC. Conclusions MEDLINE and Epistemonikos, complemented by reference checking of included studies, is the best database combination to identify systematic reviews on health-related topics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Käthe Goossen
- Institute for Research in Operative Medicine (IFOM), Faculty of Health, School of Medicine, Witten/Herdecke University, Ostmerheimer Str. 200, 51109, Cologne, Germany.
| | - Simone Hess
- Institute for Research in Operative Medicine (IFOM), Faculty of Health, School of Medicine, Witten/Herdecke University, Ostmerheimer Str. 200, 51109, Cologne, Germany
| | - Carole Lunny
- Department of Anesthesiology, Pharmacology and Therapeutics, Faculty of Medicine, Cochrane Hypertension Review Group and the Therapeutics Initiative, University of British Columbia, 2329 West Mall, Vancouver, BC, V6T 1Z4, Canada
| | - Dawid Pieper
- Institute for Research in Operative Medicine (IFOM), Faculty of Health, School of Medicine, Witten/Herdecke University, Ostmerheimer Str. 200, 51109, Cologne, Germany
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Arevalo-Rodriguez I, Moreno-Nunez P, Nussbaumer-Streit B, Steingart KR, González Peña LDM, Buitrago-Garcia D, Kaunelis D, Emparanza JI, Alonso-Coello P, Tricco AC, Zamora J. Rapid reviews of medical tests used many similar methods to systematic reviews but key items were rarely reported: a scoping review. J Clin Epidemiol 2019; 116:98-105. [PMID: 31521724 DOI: 10.1016/j.jclinepi.2019.09.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/09/2019] [Revised: 08/14/2019] [Accepted: 09/09/2019] [Indexed: 01/03/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES Rapid reviews provide an efficient alternative to standard systematic reviews in response to a high priority or urgent need. Although rapid reviews of interventions have been extensively evaluated, little is known about the characteristics of rapid reviews of diagnostic evidence. STUDY DESIGN AND SETTING We performed a scoping review for rapid reviews of medical tests published from 2013 to 2018. We extracted information on review characteristics and methods used to assess the evidence. RESULTS We identified 191 rapid reviews. All reviews were developed within a short time (less than 12 months) and were relatively concise (less than 10 pages). The reviews involved multiple index tests (44%), multiple outcomes (88%), and several test applications (29%). Well-known methodological tailoring strategies were infrequently used. Although reporting of several key features was limited, we found that, in general, rapid reviews have similar characteristics to broader knowledge syntheses. CONCLUSION Our scoping review is the first to describe the characteristics and methods of rapid reviews of diagnostic evidence. Future research should identify the most appropriate methods for performing rapid reviews of medical tests. Standards for reporting of rapid reviews are needed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ingrid Arevalo-Rodriguez
- Clinical Biostatistics Unit, Hospital Universitario Ramón y Cajal, IRYCIS, CIBER of Epidemiology and Public Health, Madrid, Spain.
| | - Paloma Moreno-Nunez
- Department of Preventive Medicine, Hospital Ramon y Cajal (IRYCIS), Madrid, Spain
| | - Barbara Nussbaumer-Streit
- Cochrane Austria, Department for Evidence-based Medicine and Clinical Epidemiology, Danube University Krems, Krems, Austria
| | - Karen R Steingart
- Department of Clinical Sciences, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Liverpool, UK
| | - Laura Del Mar González Peña
- Especialización en Epidemiología Clínica, Fundación Universitaria de Ciencias de la Salud (FUCS), Hospital de San José, Bogotá, Colombia
| | - Diana Buitrago-Garcia
- Especialización en Epidemiología Clínica, Fundación Universitaria de Ciencias de la Salud (FUCS), Hospital de San José, Bogotá, Colombia
| | - David Kaunelis
- Canadian Agency for Drugs and Technologies in Health (CADTH), Ottawa, Canada
| | - José Ignacio Emparanza
- Clinical Epidemiology Unit, Hospital Universitario Donostia, BioDonostia, CIBER of Epidemiology and Public Health, San Sebastian, Spain
| | - Pablo Alonso-Coello
- Centro Cochrane Iberoamericano-Servicio de Epidemiología Clínica y Salud Pública, Instituto de Investigación Biomédica Sant Pau (IIB Sant Pau), CIBER of Epidemiology and Public Health, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Andrea C Tricco
- Li Ka Shing Knowledge Institute, St. Michael's Hospital. Epidemiology Division, Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada; Queen's Collaboration for Health Care Quality, Joanna Briggs Institute Centre of Excellence, Queen's University, Kingston, Canada
| | - Javier Zamora
- Clinical Biostatistics Unit, Hospital Universitario Ramón y Cajal, IRYCIS, CIBER of Epidemiology and Public Health, Madrid, Spain
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Booth A, Noyes J, Flemming K, Gerhardus A, Wahlster P, van der Wilt GJ, Mozygemba K, Refolo P, Sacchini D, Tummers M, Rehfuess E. Structured methodology review identified seven (RETREAT) criteria for selecting qualitative evidence synthesis approaches. J Clin Epidemiol 2018; 99:41-52. [PMID: 29548841 DOI: 10.1016/j.jclinepi.2018.03.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 89] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/28/2017] [Revised: 01/04/2018] [Accepted: 03/07/2018] [Indexed: 01/14/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To compare and contrast different methods of qualitative evidence synthesis (QES) against criteria identified from the literature and to map their attributes to inform selection of the most appropriate QES method to answer research questions addressed by qualitative research. STUDY DESIGN AND SETTING Electronic databases, citation searching, and a study register were used to identify studies reporting QES methods. Attributes compiled from 26 methodological papers (2001-2014) were used as a framework for data extraction. Data were extracted into summary tables by one reviewer and then considered within the author team. RESULTS We identified seven considerations determining choice of methods from the methodological literature, encapsulated within the mnemonic Review question-Epistemology-Time/Timescale-Resources-Expertise-Audience and purpose-Type of data. We mapped 15 different published QES methods against these seven criteria. The final framework focuses on stand-alone QES methods but may also hold potential when integrating quantitative and qualitative data. CONCLUSION These findings offer a contemporary perspective as a conceptual basis for future empirical investigation of the advantages and disadvantages of different methods of QES. It is hoped that this will inform appropriate selection of QES approaches.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrew Booth
- Health Economics and Decision Science (HEDS), School of Health and Related Research (ScHARR), University of Sheffield, Regent Court, 30 Regent Street, Sheffield S1 4DA, UK.
| | - Jane Noyes
- School of Social Sciences, Bangor University, Bangor, UK
| | - Kate Flemming
- Department of Health Sciences, University of York, Heslington, York YO10 5DD, UK
| | - Ansgar Gerhardus
- Department for Health Services Research, Institute for Public Health and Nursing Research (IPP) and Health Sciences Bremen, University of Bremen, Bremen, Germany
| | - Philip Wahlster
- Center for General Practice, Medical Faculty, Saarland University, Homburg (Saar), Germany; Department of Health Services Research, University of Bremen, Bremen, Germany
| | - Gert Jan van der Wilt
- Radboud Institute for Health Sciences, Radboud University Medical Center, PO Box 9101, Nijmegen 6500 HB, The Netherlands
| | - Kati Mozygemba
- Department for Health Services Research, Institute for Public Health and Nursing Research (IPP) and Health Sciences Bremen, University of Bremen, Bremen, Germany
| | - Pietro Refolo
- Institute of Bioethics and Medical Humanities, "Agostino Gemelli" School of Medicine, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, 1 Largo F. Vito, Rome 00168, Italy
| | - Dario Sacchini
- Institute of Bioethics and Medical Humanities, "Agostino Gemelli" School of Medicine, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, 1 Largo F. Vito, Rome 00168, Italy
| | - Marcia Tummers
- Radboud Institute for Health Sciences, Radboud University Medical Center, PO Box 9101, Nijmegen 6500 HB, The Netherlands
| | - Eva Rehfuess
- Institute for Medical Information Processing, Biometry and Epidemiology, Pettenkofer School of Public Health, LMU Munich, Marchioninistr. 15, Munich 81377, Germany
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Pieper D, Pollock M, Fernandes RM, Büchter RB, Hartling L. Epidemiology and reporting characteristics of overviews of reviews of healthcare interventions published 2012-2016: protocol for a systematic review. Syst Rev 2017; 6:73. [PMID: 28388960 PMCID: PMC5383951 DOI: 10.1186/s13643-017-0468-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/23/2016] [Accepted: 03/23/2017] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Overviews of systematic reviews (overviews) attempt to systematically retrieve and summarize the results of multiple systematic reviews (SRs) for a given condition or public health problem. Two prior descriptive analyses of overviews found substantial variation in the methodological approaches used in overviews, and deficiencies in reporting of key methodological steps. Since then, new methods have been developed so it is timely to update the prior descriptive analyses. The objectives are to: (1) investigate the epidemiological, descriptive, and reporting characteristics of a random sample of 100 overviews published from 2012 to 2016 and (2) compare these recently published overviews (2012-2016) to those published prior to 2012 (based on the prior descriptive analyses). METHODS Medline, EMBASE, and CDSR will be searched for overviews published 2012-2016, using a validated search filter for overviews. Only overviews written in English will be included. All titles and abstracts will be screened by one review author; those deemed not relevant will be verified by a second person for exclusion. Full-texts will be assessed for inclusion by two reviewers independently. Of those deemed relevant, a random sample of 100 overviews will be selected for inclusion. Data extraction will be either performed by one reviewer with verification by a second reviewer or by one reviewer only depending on the complexity of the item. Discrepancies at any stage will be resolved by consensus or consulting a third person. Data will be extracted on the epidemiological, descriptive, and reporting characteristics of each overview. Data will be analyzed descriptively. When data are available for both time points (up to 2011 vs. 2012-2016), we will compare characteristics by calculating risk ratios or applying the Mann-Whitney test. DISCUSSION Overviews are becoming increasingly valuable evidence syntheses, and the number of published overviews is increasing. However, former analyses found limitations in the conduct and reporting of overviews. This update of a recent sample of overviews will inform whether this has changed, while also identifying areas for further improvement. SYSTEMATIC REVIEW REGISTRATION The review will not be registered in PROSPERO as it does not meet the eligibility criterion of dealing with health-related outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dawid Pieper
- Institute for Research in Operative Medicine, Witten/Herdecke University, Ostmerheimer Str. 200, Building 38, 51109, Cologne, Germany.
| | - Michelle Pollock
- Alberta Research Centre for Health Evidence, Department of Pediatrics, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada
| | - Ricardo M Fernandes
- Clinical Pharmacology Unit, Instituto de Medicina Molecular, University of Lisbon, Lisbon, Portugal.,Department of Pediatrics, Santa Maria Hospital, Lisbon, Portugal
| | | | - Lisa Hartling
- Alberta Research Centre for Health Evidence, Department of Pediatrics, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada
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Pollock M, Fernandes RM, Becker LA, Featherstone R, Hartling L. What guidance is available for researchers conducting overviews of reviews of healthcare interventions? A scoping review and qualitative metasummary. Syst Rev 2016; 5:190. [PMID: 27842604 PMCID: PMC5109841 DOI: 10.1186/s13643-016-0367-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 117] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/03/2015] [Accepted: 10/28/2016] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Overviews of reviews (overviews) compile data from multiple systematic reviews to provide a single synthesis of relevant evidence for decision-making. Despite their increasing popularity, there is limited methodological guidance available for researchers wishing to conduct overviews. The objective of this scoping review is to identify and collate all published and unpublished documents containing guidance for conducting overviews examining the efficacy, effectiveness, and/or safety of healthcare interventions. Our aims were to provide a map of existing guidance documents; identify similarities, differences, and gaps in the guidance contained within these documents; and identify common challenges involved in conducting overviews. METHODS We conducted an iterative and extensive search to ensure breadth and comprehensiveness of coverage. The search involved reference tracking, database and web searches (MEDLINE, EMBASE, DARE, Scopus, Cochrane Methods Studies Database, Google Scholar), handsearching of websites and conference proceedings, and contacting overview producers. Relevant guidance statements and challenges encountered were extracted, edited, grouped, abstracted, and presented using a qualitative metasummary approach. RESULTS We identified 52 guidance documents produced by 19 research groups. Relatively consistent guidance was available for the first stages of the overview process (deciding when and why to conduct an overview, specifying the scope, and searching for and including systematic reviews). In contrast, there was limited or conflicting guidance for the latter stages of the overview process (quality assessment of systematic reviews and their primary studies, collecting and analyzing data, and assessing quality of evidence), and many of the challenges identified were also related to these stages. An additional, overarching challenge identified was that overviews are limited by the methods, reporting, and coverage of their included systematic reviews. CONCLUSIONS This compilation of methodological guidance for conducting overviews of healthcare interventions will facilitate the production of future overviews and can help authors address key challenges they are likely to encounter. The results of this project have been used to identify areas where future methodological research is required to generate empirical evidence for overview methods. Additionally, these results have been used to update the chapter on overviews in the next edition of the Cochrane Handbook for Systematic Reviews of Interventions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michelle Pollock
- Alberta Research Centre for Health Evidence, Department of Pediatrics, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada
| | - Ricardo M Fernandes
- Clinical Pharmacology Unit, Instituto de Medicina Molecular, University of Lisbon, Lisbon, Portugal.,Department of Pediatrics, Santa Maria Hospital, Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Lorne A Becker
- Department of Family Medicine, SUNY Upstate Medical University, Syracuse, NY, USA
| | - Robin Featherstone
- Alberta Research Centre for Health Evidence, Department of Pediatrics, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada
| | - Lisa Hartling
- Alberta Research Centre for Health Evidence, Department of Pediatrics, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada.
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Gentles SJ, Charles C, Nicholas DB, Ploeg J, McKibbon KA. Reviewing the research methods literature: principles and strategies illustrated by a systematic overview of sampling in qualitative research. Syst Rev 2016; 5:172. [PMID: 27729071 PMCID: PMC5059917 DOI: 10.1186/s13643-016-0343-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/06/2016] [Accepted: 09/14/2016] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Overviews of methods are potentially useful means to increase clarity and enhance collective understanding of specific methods topics that may be characterized by ambiguity, inconsistency, or a lack of comprehensiveness. This type of review represents a distinct literature synthesis method, although to date, its methodology remains relatively undeveloped despite several aspects that demand unique review procedures. The purpose of this paper is to initiate discussion about what a rigorous systematic approach to reviews of methods, referred to here as systematic methods overviews, might look like by providing tentative suggestions for approaching specific challenges likely to be encountered. The guidance offered here was derived from experience conducting a systematic methods overview on the topic of sampling in qualitative research. RESULTS The guidance is organized into several principles that highlight specific objectives for this type of review given the common challenges that must be overcome to achieve them. Optional strategies for achieving each principle are also proposed, along with discussion of how they were successfully implemented in the overview on sampling. We describe seven paired principles and strategies that address the following aspects: delimiting the initial set of publications to consider, searching beyond standard bibliographic databases, searching without the availability of relevant metadata, selecting publications on purposeful conceptual grounds, defining concepts and other information to abstract iteratively, accounting for inconsistent terminology used to describe specific methods topics, and generating rigorous verifiable analytic interpretations. Since a broad aim in systematic methods overviews is to describe and interpret the relevant literature in qualitative terms, we suggest that iterative decision making at various stages of the review process, and a rigorous qualitative approach to analysis are necessary features of this review type. CONCLUSIONS We believe that the principles and strategies provided here will be useful to anyone choosing to undertake a systematic methods overview. This paper represents an initial effort to promote high quality critical evaluations of the literature regarding problematic methods topics, which have the potential to promote clearer, shared understandings, and accelerate advances in research methods. Further work is warranted to develop more definitive guidance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stephen J. Gentles
- Department of Clinical Epidemiology and Biostatistics, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario Canada
- CanChild Centre for Childhood Disability Research, McMaster University, 1400 Main Street West, IAHS 408, Hamilton, ON L8S 1C7 Canada
| | - Cathy Charles
- Department of Clinical Epidemiology and Biostatistics, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario Canada
| | | | - Jenny Ploeg
- School of Nursing, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario Canada
| | - K. Ann McKibbon
- Department of Clinical Epidemiology and Biostatistics, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario Canada
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