Evidence Synthesis

Welcome to the Evidence Synthesis section of our website, where we provide a comprehensive guide to various methods of synthesizing research evidence.

The section is divided into several pages, each discussing a different aspect of evidence synthesis. We start with an overview and importance of systematic reviews, which are a rigorous method of synthesizing research evidence to answer a specific research question. We also explain the PICO framework, which is commonly used to structure systematic reviews.

We then discuss living systematic reviews, a relatively new approach that involves updating a systematic review continuously as new evidence becomes available. We also provide an introduction to meta-analysis, a statistical method of combining results from multiple studies to produce a summary estimate of treatment effect.

Network meta-analysis is another statistical technique that allows for the comparison of multiple interventions and the estimation of their relative effectiveness, even when direct head-to-head comparisons are lacking.

We also discuss evidence mapping, a method of synthesizing research evidence that involves visually mapping the extent, range, and nature of research in a specific field. We provide guidance on assessing the quality of evidence, which is essential for making informed decisions based on research findings.

Finally, we explain the concepts of internal and external validity, which are critical considerations when evaluating the strength and applicability of research evidence. We also discuss the basic criteria to establish causality, which serve as a useful framework for evaluating the strength of evidence supporting a causal relationship.

We hope that this Evidence Synthesis section will provide valuable insights into the various methods of synthesizing research evidence and help you make informed decisions based on the best available evidence.