Main description:

Authoritative, clear and concise, this highly acclaimed book continues to be an essential text for all medical, surgical and allied health professionals who are seeking a quick and respected guide to systematically reviewing the literature. The third edition features a new chapter on 'Publishing systematic reviews' and numerous new case studies covering the latest developments in the field, including umbrella reviews, reviews of test accuracy, qualitative evidence and prognostic studies, and practice guidelines.

The highly experienced authors, who have each contributed to numerous systematic reviews that have helped form policy and practice, ensure that this practical text, which avoids technical jargon, continues to be the reference of choice for all health professionals undertaking literature reviews, including those specializing in epidemiology and public health.

Contents:

Preface. About the authors. Acknowledgements. Additional contributors. Abbreviations. Introduction. Steps of a systematic review. Step 1: Framing questions for a review. Step 2: Identifying relevant literature. Step 3: Assessing the quality of the literature. Step 4: Summarizing the evidence. Step 5: Interpreting the findings. Case studies. Case study 1: Review of systematic reviews. Case study 2: Reviewing the safety of a public health intervention. Case study 3: Reviewing the effectiveness of therapy. Case study 4: Reviewing the accuracy of a test. Case study 5: Reviewing qualitative evidence to evaluate patient experience. Case study 6: Reviewing the effects of educational interventions. Case study 7: To use or not to use a therapy? Incorporating evidence on harmful outcomes. Case study 8: Review of clinical practice guidelines. Case study 9: Systematic reviews to assess a prognostic factor. Case study 10: Publishing systematic reviews: Tips and tricks for convincing journal editors and peer reviewers. Glossary. Suggested reading. Index.