An Introduction to Evidence Synthesis (In-Person)

Date: 15th January 2025

Time:  14.00 – 16:30pm

Location: Function Room, Royal Belfast Hospital for Sick Children, 274 Grosvenor Road, Belfast BT12 6BA

Fee: Free

Skill Level: Introductory

Target Audience:

Healthcare professionals, academics, researchers, decision makers, librarians, information specialists, Evidence Synthesis Ireland fellows and teaching faculty who would like to learn more about systematic reviews and other evidence syntheses.

Background:

Health care policy and practice decisions should be based on a synthesis of the global body of evidence rather than relying on individual studies. High quality, relevant systematic reviews and other synthesised research evidence are fundamental to evidence-based healthcare policy and practice.

Aim:

This workshop provides an overview of the goals of ESI, the value of systematic reviews, and an introduction to searching for evidence using the Cochrane Library.

Learning Outcomes:

At the end of this workshop, participants will:

• Understand how the steps involved in a systematic review contribute to producing a precise summary and interpretation of all available primary research related to a specific clinical question.
• Identify the elements of a well-defined question and search the Cochrane Library for related primary research.

Teaching Strategies:

The workshop will consist of short presentations and opportunities to search the Cochrane Library. Please bring a mobile, iPad or laptop.

Facilitators: 

Prof. Bronagh Blackwood

Chair in Critical Care and NI lead for Evidence Synthesis Ireland

Wellcome-Wolfson Institute for Experimental Medicine

Queen’s University Belfast

Dr Jennifer McGaughey

Queens University Belfast

Affiliate to ESI