Training and Webinars

Pre-requisite: Participants will be expected to have conducted a systematic review of quantitate research, and to have knowledge of the methods for qualitative evidence synthesis

Background: In addition to understanding “what works” policy makers and practitioners often need to understand how something works, the feasibility and acceptability of an intervention, how best to implement it or whether there are unintended consequences. They may also want to understand how people value particular outcomes, or why differences in impact are seen. Qualitative evidence can often speak to these issues. Bringing together the insights from both quantitative and qualitative evidence can enhance the completeness, relevance or interpretation of the evidence base.

There are a number of ways in which quantitative and qualitative evidence can inform each other and a range of approaches and methods for mixed methods synthesis depending on the questions being asked and the data available which will be explore in this workshop.

Aim: To introduce approaches, tools and methodologies for mixed methods systematic reviews and syntheses.

The objective of this workshop is to provide an overview of:

• Approaches, tools and methodologies for mixed methods systematic reviews and syntheses

• When mixed methods design might be appropriate and appropriate designs

• How to formulate mixed methods review questions

• Approaches to searching, study selection, data extraction and critical appraisal

To provide hands-on exercises relevant to mixed methods systematic reviews and syntheses

Learning Outcomes: In this course participants will be enabled to:

• Develop appropriate questions for mixed methods systematic reviews

• Consider appropriate approaches and tools for addressing these questions

• Be aware of the implications for searching, quality appraisal and synthesis of mixed methods systematic reviews

Date: 3rd & 5th November 2021

Time: 13:00 – 16:30pm (3rd) & 09:30 – 13:00 (5th)

Places: 30 available for individuals who are resident in Ireland & Northern Ireland

Skill Level: Introductory

Target Audience: Healthcare professionals, academics, researchers, decision makers, librarians, information specialists, and Evidence Synthesis Ireland fellows and teaching faculty who would like to learn more.

Teaching Strategies: The workshop will consist of a mixture of short presentations, small group work and plenary discussion.

Facilitator: 

Prof. Ruth Garside, Associate Professor in Evidence Synthesis, European Centre for Environment and Human Health, University of Exeter.

This workshop provides authors, at the beginning of the QES process, with a comprehensive overview of Qualitative Evidence Synthesis and how Cochrane QES reviews are structured. It offers an insight into the development of a Cochrane protocol, introducing participants to Cochrane methodology, search methods, data extraction and meta-synthesis. In this course, participants will be enabled to:

• Understand the basic principles of a qualitative evidence synthesis

• Identify the scope of their review

• Understand search methods and apply these methods to their search strategy

• Apply the criteria for selecting studies

• Understand the principles of extracting and synthesising findings from a QES

• Understand the application of Grade CERQual to QES findings

Date: 9th & 10th November 2021

Time: 9:30am – 1:30pm (both days)

Places: 30 available for individuals who are resident in Ireland & Northern Ireland

Skill Level: Introductory

Target Audience: Healthcare professionals, academics, researchers and ESI fellows who have identified a QES review topic and are ready to begin working on their protocol

Teaching Strategies: The workshop will consist of a mixture of short presentations, led by members of the ESI teaching faculty, covering each of the stages of developing a QES. Breakout rooms will be used for small group activities based around worked examples and exercises and plenary discussions, providing participants with the opportunity to discuss and develop their understanding of the QES process. Participants will also be provided with a short reading list in advance of the workshop.

Facilitators: 

Dr Linda Biesty is a Senior Lecturer in Midwifery at the School of Nursing & Midwifery in NUI Galway

Dr Pauline Meskell is a Senior Lecturer in Nursing & Health Research at the Department of Nursing & Midwifery in the University of Limerick

Dr Catherine Houghton is a Senior Lecturer in Nursing at the School of Nursing & Midwifery in NUI Galway

Dr Maura Dowling is a Senior Lecturer in Nursing at the School of Nursing & Midwifery in NUI Galway

*THIS WORKSHOP IS FOR HEALTHCARE PRACTITIONERS CURRENTLY AND EXCLUSIVELY ENGAGED IN DELIVERING CLINICAL CARE IN IRELAND OR NORTHERN IRELAND.

The aim of the workshop is to give confidence to read and interpret research evidence, such that one is equipped to use evidence in decision-making. The main focus of the workshop is the use and critical appraisal of systematic reviews to support in decision-making.

Date: 17th November 2021

Time: 8.30am – 12.00 pm

Target Audiences and Places: 30 places available for healthcare practitioners currently and exclusively engaged in delivering clinical care in Ireland or Northern Ireland. Those currently engaged in research only or with a joint post are not eligible; but please email expressions of interest in a future workshop to esi@nuigalway.ie

Fee: €50

Skill level: Introductory

Teaching strategies: This workshop will take place online. Participants will be sent pre-reading of a published paper to complete before the start of the session. A total of 3 CPD credits have been assigned to this event.

Facilitator: Erica Ison is the lead for the Critical Appraisal Skills Programme at the Oxford Centre for Triple Value Healthcare. She is an experienced trainer/facilitator in a range of fields and has worked with a variety of people from health and care professionals and third sector personnel to politicians, students and members of the public.

In this webinar, Dr Munthe-Kass will introduce the TRANSFER approach for structured collaboration with stakeholders in order to consider context and the transferability of review findings. She will begin by discussing how collaboration with stakeholders can be beneficial when defining the review question and considering contextual factors, how TRANSFER can help us to structure this collaboration, and how to assess the transferability of review findings to a local decision making context. TRANSFER can be used with systematic reviews of effectiveness or qualitative research.

Heather Menzies Munthe-Kaas is a researcher at the Norwegian Institute of Public Health. She is co-founder of the GRADE-CERQual approach and the TRANSFER approach. She has been conducting systematic reviews of effectiveness and qualitative evidence syntheses for ten years. Her research interests focus on using user-centred design approaches to develop methods and tools to improve the usefulness, relevance and usability of systematic review findings and improve stakeholder representation in evidence-informed decision-making processes.

To register for this webinar, click here

This workshop will be held over four mornings and provides authors at the beginning of the systematic review process, with an in-depth understanding of how reviews are structured. It offers an insight into the development of a protocol, introducing participants to methodology, search methods, data extraction and meta-analysis. This workshop also includes an introduction to RevMan software and its use during protocol development.

Date: 24th, 28th, 31st January & 4th February 2022

Time: 10.00 am – 1.00 pm

Places: 25 available for individuals who are resident on the island of Ireland

Skill level: Introductory

Target Audience: Healthcare professionals, academics, researchers, decision-makers and Evidence Synthesis Ireland fellows who have identified a review topic and are ready to begin working on their protocol.

Prerequisites: Have a basic knowledge of health research. Are interested in learning more on the methodology of a review. Participants are requested to install the RevMan software and bring their laptop to the workshop.

Learning outcomes: In this course participants will be enabled to:

• Understand the basic principles of a systematic review
• Identify the scope of their review
• Understand search methods and apply these methods to their search strategy
• Apply the criteria for selecting studies
• Understand the principles of creating a data collection form and data extraction
• Attain a basic understanding of principles of meta-analysis
• Identify heterogeneity and understand the methods for assessing and addressing it.

Teaching strategies: The workshop will consist of a mixture of short presentations, led by members of the Cochrane Ireland teaching faculty covering each of the stages of developing a systematic review protocol, small group activities and plenary discussions, providing participants with the opportunity to develop and refine their protocol.

Facilitators

Prof. Declan Devane, Director of ESI & Cochrane Ireland, Professor of Midwifery, School of Nursing and Midwifery, NUI Galway.

Dr Julie Broderick, Associate Professor in Physiotherapy, School of Medicine, Trinity College Dublin.

This workshop will be held over four mornings and provides authors at the beginning of the systematic review process, with an in-depth understanding of how reviews are structured. It offers an insight into the development of a protocol, introducing participants to methodology, search methods, data extraction and meta-analysis. This workshop also includes an introduction to RevMan software and its use during protocol development.

Date: 24th, 28th, 31st January & 4th February 2022

Time: 10.00 am – 1.00 pm

Places: 25 available for individuals who are resident on the island of Ireland

Skill level: Introductory

Target Audience: Healthcare professionals, academics, researchers, decision-makers and Evidence Synthesis Ireland fellows who have identified a review topic and are ready to begin working on their protocol.

Prerequisites: Have a basic knowledge of health research. Are interested in learning more on the methodology of a review. Participants are requested to install the RevMan software and bring their laptop to the workshop.

Learning outcomes: In this course participants will be enabled to:

• Understand the basic principles of a systematic review
• Identify the scope of their review
• Understand search methods and apply these methods to their search strategy
• Apply the criteria for selecting studies
• Understand the principles of creating a data collection form and data extraction
• Attain a basic understanding of principles of meta-analysis
• Identify heterogeneity and understand the methods for assessing and addressing it.

Teaching strategies: The workshop will consist of a mixture of short presentations, led by members of the Cochrane Ireland teaching faculty covering each of the stages of developing a systematic review protocol, small group activities and plenary discussions, providing participants with the opportunity to develop and refine their protocol.

Facilitators

Prof. Declan Devane, Director of ESI & Cochrane Ireland, Professor of Midwifery, School of Nursing and Midwifery, NUI Galway.

Dr Julie Broderick, Associate Professor in Physiotherapy, School of Medicine, Trinity College Dublin.

*In the event that the workshop cannot take place in person, depending on public health guidance at the time, we plan to hold it virtually, via Zoom*

Pre-requisite: A basic understanding of searching and using databases

Background: One of the key features of all evidence synthesis is to conduct a systematic search strategy. Systematic literature searching requires that we plan and run searches in a way that ensures clarity, validity and reliability. Documenting the searching process is vital to ensure transparency and reproducibility.

Aim: This workshop provides attendees with the knowledge and skills to conduct a basic systematic search of the literature including running searches on key databases, experimenting with search filters and exploring supplementary searching.

Learning Outcomes: In this course participants will be enabled to:

• Design a basic systematic search strategy
• Use study-design search filters
• Explore supplementary search techniques
• Report the search methods

Date: 11th February 2022

Time: 09:00 – 13:30

Places: 30 available for individuals who are resident in Ireland & Northern Ireland

Skill Level: Introductory / Intermediate

Target Audience: Healthcare professionals, academics, researchers, decision makers, librarians, information specialists, and Evidence Synthesis Ireland fellows and teaching faculty who would like to learn more about systematic searching.

Teaching Strategies: The workshop will consist of a mixture of short presentations, small group activities with practical exercises. A short reading list/activity list will be sent to enrolled attendees in advance of the session. The number of participants for the course is limited to 30.

Facilitator: Mike Smalle,  Academic Skills Librarian, NUI Galway Library