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From: Jon Deeks on Fri, Aug 7,1998  15:56
Subject: Training in Systematic Reviews: Intensive Course in Oxford
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    Oxford Systematic Review Development Programme

 OPPORTUNITY FOR TRAINING IN SYSTEMATIC REVIEWS

          A STAGGERED 12 DAY COURSE OVER 12 MONTHS

                                BASED   IN   OXFORD

                         January-December 1999
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Applications are invited for part-time training spread over 
12 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:  30th October 1998.

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.  Students will be expected

to complete (or make substantial progress) on a systematic review of their
choice during the couse.  

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.  Time during the course will be dedicated to discussing
and tackling individual problems encountered in each review. 

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.  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 12 applicants. 

COURSE STRUCTURE
The training will be over 12 days, approximately one per month. The course
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 individualsi review
work pertinent to the topic of the day.  In addition, students will be able
to
obtain 1 day of personal faculty advice for their review.

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 the University of Oxford's Institute of Health 
Sciences, which is located in Headington, East Oxford. 
The teaching sessions will be held on Wednesdays.
Applications must be submitted by 30th October 1998.

FEES
The fee for the course is #163#1300 Public sector and #163#2600 Commercial
sector.
This includes all materials and lunches.

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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