We examine the empirical, peer-reviewed literature on the benefits of hiring people with disabilities. This article aims to help address this gap by offering critical reflections on the use of systematic reviews within international development research. AACN Clinical Issues: Advanced Practice in Acute & Critical Care, 12(4), 529-538. These can be assessed in a relatively straightforward (although not entirely unproblematic) fashion using pre-existing methodological quality scales, such as the Maryland Scale of Scientific Methods, the Scottish Intercollegiate Guidelines Network (SIGN) and the World Cancer Research Fund. They can highlight methodological concerns in research studies that can be used to improve future work in the topic area17. Carrying out a rigorous review is far from easy and, like any piece of research, a systematic review can be done badly. Concrete examples will be provided from the systematic review on cash transfers and employment creation (Hagen-Zanker et al. Due to the often low number of studies, inconsistency of methodological approaches and lack of meta-analysis, the findings were often too broad, too incomparable and too research-oriented. Systematic Reviews encompasses all aspects of the design, conduct and reporting of systematic reviews. The widespread consumption of chocolate and the evidence of health benefits from the constituents of chocolate were the basis for this systematic review of studies that evaluated the effects of whole chocolate and its potentially psychoactive components on mood and cognition. Systematic reviews search, appraise and collate all relevant empirical evidence in order to provide a complete interpretation of research results. 3. People also read lists articles that other readers of this article have read. Introduction. Studies are retrieved from academic databases and institutional websites (hand-searching). Likewise, traditional literature reviews in international development research often focus exclusively on results of other studies, without considering study design, data and analytical methods used. Registering the protocol reduces research bias, duplication of effort, resource waste, and provides greater transparency12. systematic reviews are effective at gauging the robustness of evidence. Screening is often done by multiple researchers due to the sheer number of studies to be screened. Systematic reviews include efforts to find as much as possible of the research which addresses the review's research question. They differ from traditional literature reviews particularly in the following elements of conduct and reporting. Cited by lists all citing articles based on Crossref citations.Articles with the Crossref icon will open in a new tab. Sitemap. It also gives the researcher useful skills, notably the organised identification and retrieval of literature and the ability to critically appraise research and assess its quality. Ideally, these methodological steps should preferably be performed by two authors independently, one of which is a methodologist and the other a content area expert. Systematic reviews and/or meta-analyses (based largely on epidemiological studies consisting of large cohorts) have demonstrated a dose–response relationship between physical activity and premature mortality and the primary and secondary prevention of several chronic medical conditions. Systematic Reviews encompasses all aspects of the design, conduct and reporting of systematic reviews. We found 18 randomised controlled trials with 19 trial arms (56,934 patients) dating from 1994 to 2008. Randomised controlled trials (RCTs) are considered by many to be the ‘gold standard’ of development research, but there should be a place for all kinds of research. But they may not be as objective as they appear, and their strengths must be balanced against a number of practical and fundamental limitations. Section 3 considers how applying systematic review principles can improve standard literature reviews. Ultimately, the systematic review process is extremely resource intensive. Recommended articles lists articles that we recommend and is powered by our AI driven recommendation engine. A detailed search strategy and comprehensive criteria for in- and exclusion of studies are essential to avoid introducing bias and spurious results. 153-181. Systematic reviews can be useful because their resulting evidence base can provide valid, reliable information regarding "what works" in a particular context. adolescence, depression). If appropriate, the results of the identified studies may be combined in a meta-analysis. They have a clear, logical rationale that is reported to the reader of the review. International development is arguably the latest field to have been introduced to systematic reviews. Additional information about SRs can be found on the Cochrane website. I have developed an approach that works for me and that I hope will be informative to those of … However, while piloting enables researchers to screen more consistently, there will always be some degree of subjectivity. The flow diagram can also be adopted to use for non-medical research (http://prisma-statement.org/PRISMAStatement/FlowDiagram). A systematic review by Mygind et al of 84 studies, found similar outcomes for children and adolescents, relating to mental health improvements after an immersive nature experience. Methods. 2004), but this issue still needs to be explored further. Patient satisfaction is a key indicator of how well the telemedicine modality met patient expectations. (2011) conclude that the majority of the microfinance impact evaluations they examined suffer from weak methodologies and thus recommend better research to get a clearer picture of how and for whom microfinance interventions actually work. Systematic reviews are a type of evidence synthesis which formulate research questions that are broad or narrow in scope, and identify and synthesize data that directly relate to the systematic review question. (2011) highlight the need for replication or reproduction, as even results from papers published in top rank peer-reviewed journals may not be reliable. In 1972, Archie Cochrane published a textbook titled “Effectiveness and Efficiency: Random Reflections on Health Service”10. For example, in the Hagen-Zanker et al. Finally, systematic reviews miss context and process, which are very important in international development research. Duvendack et al. Systematic research synthesis to inform policy, practice and democratic debate, Application of systematic review methodology to the field of nutrition, Systematic reviews from astronomy to zoology: myths and misconceptions, SLRC (Secure Livelihoods Research Consortium), Best practice in systematic reviews: the importance of protocols and registration, Integrating qualitative research with trials in systematic reviews. First‐line therapy for adults with advanced renal cell carcinoma: a systematic review and network meta‐analysis Marius Goldkuhle, Angela Aldin, Tina Jakob, Anne Adams, Ina Monsef, Axel Heidenreich, Philipp Dahm, Nicole Skoetz The choice of indicator clearly affected the impacts identified and comparisons across studies using different indicators were not meaningful. Once I changed my perspective, my eyes were opened to several potential benefits to students in conducting systematic reviews, as well as benefits to me as a librarian. Systematic reviews and meta-analyses are essential tools for summarising evidence accurately and reliably. Used widely in medical research and the natural sciences since the 1970s and early 1980s, systematic reviews are considered a ‘rigorous method to map the evidence base in an [as] unbiased way as possible, and to assess the quality of the evidence and synthesize it’ (DFID 2011). For a random selection of 100 studies, the initial disagreement rate in terms of inclusion/exclusion of studies between the two main researchers was 18 per cent, which was reduced to less than 10 per cent after extensive discussions within the team. For example, the Hagen-Zanker et al. They can help clarify what is known and not known about the potential benefits and harms of drugs, … The authors made similar experiences when conducting other systematic reviews. Register to receive personalised research and resources by email, The benefits and challenges of using systematic reviews in international development research, Secure Livelihoods Research Consortium, Overseas Development Institute , 111 Westminster Bridge Road, London , SE1 7JD , UK, Social Protection Programme, Overseas Development Institute , 111 Westminster Bridge Road, London , SE1 7JD , UK, Secure Livelihoods Research Programme Social Protection, Overseas Development Institute , 111 Westminster Bridge Road, London , SE1 7JD , UK, Research & Policy in Development, Overseas Development Institute , 111 Westminster Bridge Road, London , SE1 7JD , UK, UK Centre for Evidence Based Policy and Practice. The final stage involves the extraction of relevant quantitative and/or qualitative data, in order to synthesise the evidence. The systematic review was limited to 7 health indicators: high blood cholesterol, high blood pressure, the metabolic syndrome, obesity, low bone density, depression, … Drawing on the authors' first-hand experiences of conducting eight systematic reviews, this article reflects upon the use of systematic reviews in international development research. The availability of different cannabis-based products can make the side effects of exposure unpredictable. A systematic literature review of studies examining physical activity, cardiorespiratory, metabolic and psychological outcomes associated with e-cycling. A systematic approach is a beneficial tool for companies as it helps build essential capabilities and strength for both the companies and the employees. These concerns will now be discussed in more detail. Systematic review methodology has evolved and been modified over the years to accommodate the range of questions that may arise in the health and medical sciences. John Garrow Emeritus professor of Human Nutrition 93 Uxbridge Road Rickmansworth WD3 2DQ. You must adopt a comprehensive, objective and reproducible search strategy to capture all relevant sources of evidence. Systematic reviews are usually peer-reviewed at different stages in the process. Systematic Review of Risks and Benefits of Combined Oral Contraceptive: Tirfie, Yemisirach Workneh, Gebru, Girmai: 9786202065627: Books - Amazon.ca This is a promising development. Practical challenges when conducting systematic reviews, https://doi.org/10.1080/19439342.2012.711342, http://www.dfid.gov.uk/r4d/SystematicReviewFeature.asp (http://www.dfid.gov.uk/r4d/SystematicReviewFeature.asp), http://www.bmj.com/content/323/7316/765.short (http://www.bmj.com/content/323/7316/765.short), https://ueaeprints.uea.ac.uk/19437/1/Maren_Duvendack_Smoke_and_Mirrors_PhD_Sept2010.pdf (https://ueaeprints.uea.ac.uk/19437/1/Maren_Duvendack_Smoke_and_Mirrors_PhD_Sept2010.pdf), www.odi.org.uk/slrc (http://www.odi.org.uk/slrc), http://www.3ieimpact.org/ (http://www.3ieimpact.org/), Number of studies screened on title/abstract (after removing duplicates), Number of studies included in the final analysis. Systematic reviews require enough data to make conclusions. Health and productivity at work: which active workstation for which benefits: a systematic review. Peer review of the protocol and process ensures a further reduction of researcher bias. Lastly, they can be used to identify questions for which the available evidence provide clear answers and thus for which further research is not necessary18. Section 4 discusses the specific practical challenges the authors faced before Section 5 raises some more fundamental concerns regarding the use of systematic review in international development. The article identifies where a systematic review approach adds value to development research and where it may become problematic. 2004). She also serves as a peer reviewer for various biomedical journals. As of July 2017, about one third of the HPV vaccine studies had not been published and study results were not posted for about half of the completed studies on ClinicalTrials.gov [ 36 ]. This article aims to guide you on the different kinds of systematic review, the standard procedures to be followed, and the best approach to conducting and writing a systematic review. Outcomes are ultimately shaped by programme design and delivery, as well as by context (see Pawson and Tilley (1997) on context–mechanism–outcome configurations), and many systematic reviews do not help us understand these dimensions. Summarizing the results of the included studies and interpreting their findings in the light of certainty of evidence and their applicability are the final steps of completing a systematic review. 2011), employment creation programmes (Holmes et al. Further, it raises a series of fundamental concerns for those working in international development, as well as the social sciences more broadly. In doing so, you can be confident of having incorporated all the appropriate material for the topic at hand. Systematic reviews are a type of literature review. Work in the initial stages, we should be explicit, transparent, clearly stated and reproducible search strategy comprehensive. 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