Planning, Costing and Managing your Systematic Reviews (PaniCMaSteR)

Whether you are conducting commissioned research, a review for your PhD, or surveying methodological developments in your discipline, a major challenge is managing the logistics of the systematic review process. This short course draws on expertise from successfully conducting over 50 funded reviews for a variety of purposes and with a range of published outputs. The Course Team has developed tools for planning and costing systematic reviews for research and consultancy and has produced guidelines for managing the review process which will form the basis of this very practical and interactive workshop. 

Who will benefit from the course?

This workshop, based on previous successful short courses by the same team, will meet the needs of those wishing to plan, cost and manage their first independent review of the literature. It will also be beneficial for more experienced reviewers who wish to gain experience of a variety of tips and tools to manage the review process. No previous familiarity of conducting systematic reviews is required although participants will be expected to have a good awareness of what a systematic review is and what it involves.      

·         Experienced researchers wishing an insight into specific project management challenges associated with systematic reviews

·         Systematic Reviewers who wish to advance to managing their own review

·         PhD Students in topic areas who are undertaking a substantive review of the literature

·         Research administrators who want an overview of the systematic review process and its implications for finance and administration

Course Faculty

Andrew Booth, Reader in Evidence Based Information Practice, School of Health and Related Research (ScHARR)
Lead author and contributor to Systematic Approaches to a Successful Literature Review (Sage, 2011)          

Expected Outcomes

By the end of this programme participants will be able to:

·         Characterise the main systematic approaches to reviewing the literature and their implications in terms of time, personnel and money

·         Identify major decision points along the pathway of the systematic review process

·         Describe a variety of useful tools and techniques designed to facilitate the planning and conduct of a systematic review

·         Identify common review problem scenarios and strategies to resolve them successfully 

Accommodation and Meals

Lunch and light refreshments will be provided

Accommodation is not included in the cost of the course, please contact us scharr-scu@sheffield.ac.uk for information on local hotels.

Course Dates

Friday 12th April 2013

Venue

The Ridge Conference Centre, Sheffield

Fees

£200 per person

Bookings

Click HERE to book online

Contact Us

email : ScHARR Short Course UnitScHARR Short Course Unit

Tel: +44 222 2968
Fax: +44 222 4095

Future Courses

We will be offering new courses in the future as well as repeating selected subjects which have generated high demand.
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New Evidence Alerts available

There are three new Evidence Alerts for you to subscribe to.

They are:

• Fall Prevention Horizon Scanning
• Patient Safety Horizon Scanning
• Orthopaedics Horizon Scanning

Please visit the Library webpage to subscribe to these bulletins.

Make an appointment at the Library Surgery!

The Integrated Library Service is running a Library Surgery for staff based at the Clatterbridge site.  Come and see us on Mondays and Thursdays between 1.00pm - 5.00pm at the J. Aitken Library Resource Room, Wirral Postgraduate Medical Centre, Clatterbridge Hospital.

Outside these hours material can be loaned and consulted, computers, printing and copying are available 24/7 and there is access to help and support.

Make an appointment or drop in to find out more about…

·         Searching for the best evidence for patient care

·         Setting up Evidence Alerts to keep you up to date

·         Which are the best websites for health information

·         How to find books & journal articles on your topic

·         Creating and managing your Athens account

·         How we can support your research & audit activities

·         Critically appraising research studies

DON’T FORGET! You can visit the library website at http://www.whnt.nhs.uk/library to:

·          ‘Ask a Librarian’ online enquiry service

·         Renew and request books & journals

·         Subscribe to Evidence Alerts

·         Request training or a literature search

·         Search the library catalogue

e-Learning Resources for Appraisal & Revalidation

London Deanery have launched a range of e-learning resources to support appraisal and revalidation.  They are freely available to all doctors. 

The resources are aimed at supporting both appraisees and appraisers by providing guidance, tips and useful information about the appraisal process.

They are accessible via the London Deanery webpage.

e-Learning Modules
These online learning modules take about 45 - 60 minutes to complete and cover a range of key topics helpful for both appraisees and appraisers:

• Getting the most out of your appraisal
• Top tips on developing your PDP 
• Quality improvement activity for appraisal and revalidation 
• Challenge in appraisal
• Calibrating supporting information in medical appraisal
• Tips for appraisers

The modules are hosted on the BMJ learning platform and any doctor is able to register for free access.  

Podcasts
Our podcasts are a collection of several short bite sized films (3-4 minutes) covering a range of key topics, helpful for both appraisees and appraisers :

• Introduction to appraisal and revalidation
• GMC Domains
• Managing challenging situations in appraisals
• Multi Source Feedback and Patient Satisfaction Questionnaires
• Reflection
• Gathering Supporting Information 

WUTH publication: Atraumatic, symptomatic ankle plica successfully treated by arthroscopic debridement: a case report.

Citation: The journal of foot and ankle surgery, 2012 Jul-Aug; 51(4), 472-4
Author: Highcock AJ, Cohen D, Platt S
Abstract: Synovial plicae, both symptomatic and asymptomatic, are increasingly being diagnosed with the expansion of arthroscopic procedures in synovial joints. Ankle plicae, however, remain an uncommon diagnosis and have previously only been reported as symptomatic in the post-traumatic ankle. Here the authors present a case report of an atraumatic, symptomatic ankle plica successfully treated with arthroscopic debridement.

Link to Pubmed record 

For more information about obtaining the full text of journal articles, please visit our Document / Book Supply service.

To view all WUTH publications please link here.

WUTH publication: Plantar verrucous carcinoma masquerading as toe web intertrigo.

Citation: The Australasian Journal of Dermatology, 2012, May;53(2): e20-2
Author: McKay C, McBride P, Muir J
Abstract: A 77-year-old man presented with a 6-month history of intractable toe web intertrigo located in the third and fourth web spaces of his left foot. Biopsy and histological examination confirmed the presence of a verrucous carcinoma. Verrucous carcinoma of the foot has been called epithelioma cuniculatum, a case arising in the intertriginous area of the foot is presented.

Link to Pubmed record 

For more information about obtaining the full text of journal articles, please visit our Document / Book Supply service.

To view all WUTH publications please link here.

WUTH publication: Frequency of Infant Stroking Reported by Mothers Moderates the Effect of Prenatal Depression on Infant Behavioural and Physiological Outcomes

Citation: ScienceDaily, 2012, 7 (10), e45446
Author: Helen Sharp, Andrew Pickles, Michael Meaney, Kate Marshall, Florin Tibu, Jonathan Hill

Link to record

WUTH publication: Diagnosis of Clostridium difficile-associated disease: examination of multiple algorithms using toxin EIA, glutamate dehydrogenase EIA and loop-mediated isothermal amplification.

Citation: British Journal of Biomedical Science, 2012, 69(3), 112-8
Author: Bamber AI, Fitzsimmons K, Cunniffe JG, Beasor CC, Mackintosh CA, Hobbs G
Abstract: The laboratory diagnosis of Clostridium difficile infection (CDI) needs to be accurate and timely to ensure optimal patient management, infection control and reliable surveillance. Three methods are evaluated using 810 consecutive stool samples against toxigenic culture: CDT TOX A/B Premier enzyme immunoassay (EIA) kit (Meridian Bioscience, Europe), Premier EIA for C. difficile glutamate dehydrogenase (GDH) (Meridian Bioscience, Europe) and the Illumigene kit (Meridian Bioscience, Europe), both individually and within combined testing algorithms. The study revealed that the CDT TOX A/B Premier EIA gave rise to false-positive and false-negative results and demonstrated poor sensitivity (56.47%), compared to Premier EIA for C. difficile GDH (97.65%), suggesting this GDH EIA can be a useful negative screening method. Results for the Illumigene assay alone showed sensitivity, specificity, negative predictive value (NPV) and positive predictive value (PPV) of 91.57%, 98.07%, 99.03% and 84.44%, respectively. A two-stage algorithm using Premier EIA for C. difficile GDH/Illumigene assay yielded superior results compared with other testing algorithms (91.57%, 98.07%, 99.03% and 84.44%, respectively), mirroring the Illumigene performance. However, Illumigene is approximately half the cost of current polymerase chain reaction (PCR) methods, has a rapid turnaround time and requires no specialised skill base, making it an attractive alternative to assays such as the Xpert C. difficile assay (Cepheid, Sunnyvale, CA). A three-stage algorithm offered no improvement and would hamper workflow.

Link to Pubmed record

For more information about obtaining the full text of journal articles, please visit our Document / Book Supply service.

To view all WUTH publications please link here.

WUTH publication: Access to the next wave of biologic therapies (Abatacept and Tocilizumab) for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis in England and Wales: addressing treatment outside the current NICE guidance.

Citation: Clinical Rheumatology, 2012 Jun, 31(6), 1005-12
Author: Chiu Y, Ostor AJ, Hammond A, Sokoll K, Anderson M, Buch M, Ehrenstein MR, Gordon P, Steer S, Bruce IN
Abstract: Patients in England and Wales with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) receive treatment from the National Health Service (NHS) with therapies approved by the European Medicines Agency (EMA), under guidance from the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE). This document overviews the current NICE guidelines for the treatment of RA and identifies scenarios when such guidance may not represent the optimum management strategy for individual patients. Specifically, we consider the use of tocilizumab or abatacept as the most appropriate treatments for some patients. In such scenarios, it may be possible for the clinician to secure access to the required therapy through an application procedure known as an 'individual funding request', the process of which is described in detail here. At present, it is unclear the extent to which the proposed reform of the NHS will affect the role of NICE in providing guidance and setting standards of care. Until the full impact of the proposed changes are realized, individual funding requests will remain a valuable way of securing the optimal treatment for all patients suffering from RA.

Link to Pubmed record

For more information about obtaining the full text of journal articles, please visit our Document / Book Supply service

To view all WUTH publications please link here.

New evidence alerts bulletins available

Child Health Horizon Scanning bulletin - this monthly horizon scanning bulletin will alert you to new innovations and good practice in service provision, as well as potential future risk factors relating to Child Health. This bulletin is produced by North West health librarians. 

Kidney Diseases - Updates providing the latest evidence, resources and news relating to kidney diseases.

NHS Evidence: Eyes on Evidence - Eyes on Evidence helps to contextualise important new evidence that could signal a change in clinical practice.