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Begin forwarded message: > From: Olive Goddard <[log in to unmask]> > Date: Wed Apr 16, 2003 10:45:03 Europe/London > To: [log in to unmask] > Subject: Re: Calendar Event > Reply-To: Olive Goddard <[log in to unmask]> > > Dear Colleagues, > > For your information > > > > THE OXFORD SYSTEMATIC REVIEW DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME > > A collaboration between > THE UK COCHRANE CENTRE > AND > CENTRE FOR STATISTICS IN MEDICINE > > Oxford based part-time training over two months to undertake a > systematic > review > > 14 - 17 October 2003 > 25 - 27 November 2003 > > > 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 that 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 was originally devised by Jon Deeks, of the Systematic > Review > Development Programme at the Centre for Statistics in Medicine. > > 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 > and > interpretation. Training will be given in relevant software > packages. The > two course blocks will focus on planning a review, doing the work of > the > review, and the analysis and reporting of the findings. > > Who Should Apply? > Applications will be welcome from health care professionals and > researchers > who wish both to learn more about systematic reviews and to undertake > one. > Applicants must have an idea of a research question that could be > answered > by undertaking a systematic review, or already be working on a review. > Those > most suited to the course will have good 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 6.5 days given in 2 blocks of intensive > sessions. > 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 > The teaching of the course is a joint venture between the UK Cochrane > Centre > and the Centre for Statistics in Medicine. The teaching staff includes > Phil > Alderson, Esther Coren and Anne Eisinga of the UK Cochrane Centre, and > Doug > Altman and Lesley Smith of the Centre for Statistics in Medicine. > Additional > teaching will be provided by Julian Higgins of the Cochrane > Collaboration > Statistical Methods Group (and the MRC Biostatistics Unit, Cambridge). > Jon > Deeks is working abroad during 2003 and therefore will not be part of > the > faculty this year. > > Location and Dates > The course will be taught at Lady Margaret Hall and Oxford University's > Computing Service, which are both, located in central Oxford. > > Block 1 - Tuesday, 14 - Friday, 17 October 2003 > Block 2 - Tuesday, 25 - Thursday 27 November 2003 > > Applications must be submitted by 30 May 2003. > > > Fees > The fee for the course is £995 Public sector and £1995 Commercial > sector. > This includes all materials and lunches, but no accommodation. > > For an application form and further information > Please contact Nicola Thornton (e-mail [log in to unmask]) > > Nicola Thornton > Systematic Review Development Programme > UK Cochrane Centre, Summertown Pavilion > Middle Way, OXFORD OX2 7LG ------ACB discussion List Information-------- This is an open discussion list for the academic and clinical community working in clinical biochemistry. 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