As well as using expertise from the mailing list of this group, there are many resources and sources of information available to help with systematic reviews and evidence synthesis, from Cambridge and elsewhere.

Some key resources and tools are listed below. If you would like to add further suggestions then please let us know.

• Cochrane Collaboration: Cochrane Handbook for Systematic Reviews of Interventions (http://handbook.cochrane.org/)

• University of York, Centre for Reviews and Dissemination (CRD): Undertaking systematic reviews of research on effectiveness (https://www.york.ac.uk/crd/guidance/)

• Campbell Collaboration: Campbell systematic reviews follow structured guidelines and standards for summarizing the international research evidence on the effects of interventions in crime and justice, education, international development, and social welfare. (http://www.campbellcollaboration.org/systematic_reviews/index.php?page=4)

• Joanna Briggs Institute: Systematic reviews of the results of research that utilize other approaches, particularly qualitative research, economic research and policy research . (http://joannabriggs.org/assets/docs/sumari/reviewersmanual-2011.pdf)

• SCIE (Social Care Institute for Excellence): Systematic reviews of social care: SCIE systematic research reviews: guidelines (2nd Edition) http://www.scie.org.uk/publications/researchresources/rr01.asp)
• RAMESES I (Realist And Meta-narrative Evidence Syntheses: Evolving Standards) : training materials for realist reviews and quality and publication standards. (http://www.ramesesproject.org/)
• Cochrane reviews of Diagnostic Test Accuracy (http://dta.cochrane.org/handbook-dta-reviews)

There are published guidelines and checklists for reporting systematic reviews that many journals recommend are followed when publishing systematic reviews:-

• PRISMA: Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses (http://www.prisma-statement.org/)

• MOOSE: Meta-analysis and Systematic Reviews of Observational Studies (https://www.editorialmanager.com/jognn/account/MOOSE.pdf)

• RAMESES I (Realist And Meta-narrative Evidence Syntheses: Evolving Standards): some information about publication standards ( http://www.ramesesproject.org/)

 

• Cochrane Collaboration: Cochrane Handbook for Systematic Reviews of Interventions (http://handbook.cochrane.org/). Chapter 6: Searching for studies

• University of York, Centre for Reviews and Dissemination (CRD): Undertaking systematic reviews of research on effectiveness (https://www.york.ac.uk/crd/guidance/). Chapter 1.3.1. Identifying research evidence for systematic reviews.

Search filter resources:

• InterTASC Information Specialists’ Sub-Group (ISSG) Search Filter Resource (https://sites.google.com/a/york.ac.uk/issg-search-filters-resource/home)

• SIGN (Scottish Intercollegiate Guidelines Network) filters: http://www.sign.ac.uk/search-filters.html 

Trials Registers

• UK Clinical Trials Gateway http://www.ukctg.nihr.ac.uk/

• Research Councils Gateway to Research http://gtr.rcuk.ac.uk/

• AllTrials http://www.alltrials.net/

• ClinicalTrials.gov www.clinicaltrials.gov

• International Clinical Trials Registry Platform (WHO) http://www.who.int/ictrp/en/

 

Critical Appraisal/ Risk of Bias tools

• Cochrane collaboration tool for assessing risk of bias (for intervention studies):

http://handbook.cochrane.org/chapter_8/8_5_the_cochrane_collaborations_tool_for_assessing_risk_of_bias.htm

• NICE methods manual: Methods for the development of NICE public health guidance (PMG4), 2012

(Appendix E: Algorithm for classifying quantitative experimental and observational study designs

Appendix F: Quality appraisal checklist quantitative intervention studies

Appendix G: Quality appraisal checklist quantitative studies reporting correlations and associations

Appendix H: Quality appraisal checklist qualitative studies

Appendix I: Quality appraisal checklist economic evaluations)

• CASP (Critical Appraisal Skills Programme) has tools and checklists for appraisal of a range of study designs. casp-uk.net

• SIGN (Scottish Intercollegiate Guidelines Network) http://www.sign.ac.uk/checklists-and-notes.html

 

Resources available through Cambridge Medical Library

The Medical Library offers various types of training and resources, tailored to suit your research needs: http://library.medschl.cam.ac.uk/research-support/

• Databases for Literature Searching
• “Teach Yourself” Guides
• Group Training
• Literature Search Service
• Information Clinics
• Critical Appraisal Resources
• Writing for Publication
• Keeping Up To Date
• Research Data Management Resources
• Library In Your Pocket: Apps etc
• eBooks Drop-in Sessions

Other Cambridge resources

Research Data Management at Cambridge http://www.data.cam.ac.uk/

http://systematicreviewtools.com/

http://prisma.thetacollaborative.ca/

PIECES spreadsheet (formerly known as RIGOR) – the spreadsheet to end all spreadsheets http://guides.library.tamu.edu/systematicreviews

 

Useful Presentations

What is a systematic review? University of Manchester http://www.methods.manchester.ac.uk/resources/categories/review/systematic/

Improving efficiency and confidence in systematic literature searching: Wichor Bramer, Erasmus MC, Rotterdam http://www.slideshare.net/wichor/eahil-2015-systematic-searching

Systematic Reviews – LibGuide • Margaret Foster, Texas A&M University http://guides.library.tamu.edu/systematicreviews

Systematic reviews – a “how to guide”, Isla Kuhn, University of Cambridge Medical Library http://www.slideshare.net/ilk21/systematic-reviews-a-how-to-guide