Evidence Based Review

Introduction to Evidence Based Reviews Systematic reviews comprehensively examine the medical literature, –seeking to identify and synthesize all relevant information –formulate the best approach to diagnosis or treatment. Examples are many of the systematic reviews of the Cochrane Collaboration or BMJ's Clinical Evidence compendium. The best clinical review articles base the discussion on existing systematic reviews and meta-analyses, –incorporate all relevant research findings about the management of a given disorder. –provide readers with powerful summaries and sound clinical guidance. Am Fam Physician 2002;65:251-8.

Key Elements of Evidence Based Reviews Topic Selection Searching the Literature Patient-Oriented vs. Disease-Oriented Evidence Evaluating the Literature Levels of Evidence Am Fam Physician 2002;65:251-8.

Topic Selection Choose a common clinical problem and avoid topics that are rarities or unusual manifestations of disease or that have curiosity value only. Whenever possible, choose common problems for which there is new information about diagnosis or treatment. Emphasize new information that, if valid, should prompt a change in clinical practice. Am Fam Physician 2002;65:251-8.

Searching the Literature When searching the literature on your topic, please consult several sources of evidence-based reviews –E.g Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ): Clinical Guidelines and Evidence Reports; American College of Physicians Journal Club (ACPJC); Bandolier; Centre for Evidence Based Medicine (CEBM); Clinical Evidence,BMJ Publishing Group; Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews etc In particular, try to find the answer in an authoritative compendium of evidence-based reviews, or at least try to find a meta-analysis or well-designed randomized controlled trial (RCT) to support it. If none appears to be available, try to cite an authoritative consensus statement or clinical guideline. If no strong evidence exists to support the conventional approach to managing a given clinical situation, point this out in the text, especially for key recommendations. Am Fam Physician 2002;65:251-8.

Patient-Oriented (POEM) vs. Disease- Oriented Evidence (DOE) Concept of Patient-Oriented Evidence that Matters (POEM), in distinction to Disease-Oriented Evidence (DOE). –POEM deals with outcomes of importance to patients, such as changes in morbidity, mortality, or quality of life. –DOE deals with surrogate end points, such as changes in laboratory values or other measures of response. –Although the results of DOE sometimes parallel the results of POEM, they do not always correspond When possible, use POEM-type evidence rather than DOE. When DOE is the only guidance available, indicate that key clinical recommendations lack the support of outcomes evidence. Am Fam Physician 2002;65:251-8.

Evaluating the Literature Evaluate the strength and validity of the literature that supports the discussion Look for meta-analyses, high-quality, randomized clinical trials with important outcomes (POEM), or well-designed, nonrandomized clinical trials, clinical cohort studies, or case-controlled studies with consistent findings. In some cases, high-quality, historical, uncontrolled studies are appropriate (e.g., the evidence supporting the efficacy of Papanicolaou smear screening). Avoid anecdotal reports or repeating the hearsay of conventional wisdom, which may not stand up to the scrutiny of scientific study (e.g., prescribing prolonged bed rest for low back pain). Look for studies that describe patient populations that are likely to be seen in primary care rather than subspecialty referral populations. Am Fam Physician 2002;65:251-8.

Levels of Evidence Am Fam Physician 2002;65:251-8.

Systematic review and Meta-analysis Systematic review: Comprehensive literature search and critical appraisal of individual studies and uses appropriate statistical techniques to combine these valid studies. Meta-analysis: Studies with relevant data are identified. Eligibility criteria for inclusion and exclusion of the studies are defined. Data are abstracted. Abstracted data analyzed statistically

We undertook a systematic literature review with various search terms and hand searched online journals and scanned reference lists of identified citations. We restricted the search to Medline (Ovid), Embase, CINAHL, Global Health, Web of Science, WHOLIS, LILACS, IndMed, grey literature (SIGLE), and Chinese language databases and to studies published between Jan 1, 1995, and Oct 31, Panel 1 shows study eligibility criteria. No language or publication restrictions were applied. Two authors (HN and VE) independently did the literature search and extracted data. Any disagreements were resolved after discussion. The Influenza Study Group agreed on a common approach to data analysis and formulated common case definitions. We invited participation of other researchers and contacted authors of published studies who had done similar population-based studies of paediatric influenza

… systematic literature review with various search terms and hand searched online journals and scanned reference lists of identified citations. We restricted the search to Medline (Ovid), Embase, CINAHL, Global Health, Web of Science, WHOLIS, LILACS, IndMed, grey literature (SIGLE), and Chinese language databases and to studies published between 1995, and Panel 1 shows study eligibility criteria. No language or publication restrictions were applied. Two authors independently did the literature search and extracted data. Any disagreements were resolved after discussion. We invited participation of other researchers and contacted authors of published studies who had done similar population-based studies of paediatric influenza….

Comments by Zambon M, Health Protection Agency, London NW9 5HT, UK Published online November 11, 2011 DOI: /S (11) …. Nair and colleagues present a rigorous systematic review and meta-analysis of a surprisingly weak evidence base. The investigators assessed..40 different studies between …with different methodologies …Unsurprisingly in view of the studies’ heterogeneity, estimates for global hospitalisation and for overall mortality owing to influenza in 2008 (28 000– deaths) in children younger than 5 years need elaborate statistical imputation…..