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Oxford Systematic Review Development Programme
OPPORTUNITY FOR TRAINING IN SYSTEMATIC REVIEWS
A STAGGERED 7.5 DAY INTENSIVE COURSE
BASED IN OXFORD
August to October 2000
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Applications are invited for part-time training spread over
3 months for health professionals and researchers who
wish to undertake a systematic review
Based at the:
The Oxford Systematic Review Development Programme
Centre for Statistics in Medicine
Institute of Health Sciences
Closing date for applications: 10 July 2000.
More details are given below and on our web pages:
http://www.ihs.ox.ac.uk/csm/srdphome.html
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INTRODUCTION
Health care decision makers need to access research evidence to make
informed decisions on diagnosis, treatment and health care management for
both individual patients and populations. Systematic reviews are recognised
as one of the most useful and reliable tools to assist this practice of
evidence-based health care. This course aims to train health care
professionals and researchers in the science and methods of systematic
reviews.
WHAT IS A SYSTEMATIC REVIEW?
There are few important questions in health care which can be informed by
consulting the result of a single empirical study. Systematic reviews
attempt to provide answers to such problems by identifying and appraising
all available studies within the relevant focus and synthesising their
results, all according to explicit methodologies. The review process places
special emphasis on assessing and maximising the value of data, both in
issues of reducing bias and minimising random error. The systematic review
method is most suitably applied to questions of patient treatment and
management, although it has also been applied to answer questions regarding
the value of diagnostic test results, likely prognoses and the
cost-effectiveness of health care.
OVERALL AIMS
The ultimate aim of this course is to increase the publication of systematic
reviews. Students will receive training in the principles, methods and
practicalities of undertaking a systematic review.
COURSE CONTENT
The course content will include the framing and formulation of research
questions, protocol development, literature searching, basic research
methodology, critical appraisal of studies, data synthesis, reporting,
interpretation and project management. Training will be given in relevant
software packages. The three course blocks will focus on planning a
review, doing the review work, and the analysis and reporting of the
findings, respectively.
WHO SHOULD APPLY?
Applications will be welcome from health care professionals and researchers
who have a yearning to learn more about systematic reviews and a desire to
undertake one. Ideally applicants must have an idea of a research question
which could be answered by undertaking a systematic review, or already be
working on such a review. Those most likely to be selected will have a good
basic knowledge of the science of medical research, including an awareness
of the skills and practice of evidence-based health care, basic statistical
skills, and a moderate degree of computer literacy. Places will be limited
to 16 applicants.
COURSE STRUCTURE
The training will be over 7½ days given in 3 blocks of intensive sessions,
based around the NHS CRD Guidelines for Undertaking Systematic Reviews.
Teaching will be by a mixture of didactic, interactive and practical
sessions. Students will be required to undertake directed pre-session
reading. There will be a certain amount of dedicated time in each session
for the group to discuss issues directly arising from individuals’ review
work pertinent to the topic of the day.
TEACHING STAFF
Teaching will be led by Jon Deeks (Head, Systematic Review Development
Programme) and Doug Altman (Director, Centre for Statistics in Medicine).
Additional faculty will be drawn from the Centre for Evidence-based
Medicine, the Cairns Library, the Cochrane Collaboration and other research
units undertaking systematic reviews in the Oxford area.
LOCATION and DATES
The course will be taught at Rewley House, the University of Oxford’s
College for Continuing Education which is located in central Oxford.
Block 1 - 31st August to 1st September 2000
Block 2 - 11th to 13th September 2000
Block 3 - 3rd to 5th October 2000
Applications must be submitted by 10 July 2000.
FEES
The fee for the course is £750 Public sector and £1450 Commercial sector.
This includes all materials and lunches, but no accommodation.
FURTHER INFORMATION and APPLICATION FORM
Please contact Rochelle Seifas at the Systematic Review Development
Programme (tel 01865 226615, e-mail [log in to unmask]) or visit our
webpages
http://www.ihs.ox.ac.uk/csm/srdphome.html
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Rochelle Seifas
Project Manager
Systematic Reviews Development Programme
Centre for Statistics in Medicine
Institute of Health Sciences
Old Road, Headington
Oxford OX3 7LF
tel: 01865 226615
fax: 01865 226962
http://www.ihs.ox.ac.uk/csm/srdphome.html
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