The number of published systematic reviews has increased dramatically over the last fifteen years. Are they all good? Like any other study, a systematic review needs to be read with a critical eye. There are specific criteria for critically appraising a published systematic review. Understanding these criteria and applying them to a systematic review will give you more confidence in the conclusions you draw from a review.

After participating in this webinar, you will be able to:

• identify the criteria for critically appraising a published systematic review;
• identify the tools and resources that are available to help readers with this task; and
• understand the layout of a forest plot, the graphical representation of the conclusions of a systematic review or meta analysis.

We will evaluate several systematic reviews to put into practice the guidance presented in this webinar.

Presenter

Connie Schardt, AHIP, FMLA, retired as the associate director for research & education for the Medical Center Library & Archives at Duke University in 2013. She is currently adjunct faculty at the School of Information and Library Science at the University of North Carolina–Chapel Hill, where she teaches an online course: “Evidence-Based Practice (EBP) and the Medical Librarian.” Since 2008, she has been codirector of the three-day workshop, “Supporting Clinical Care: An Institute in Evidence-Based Practice for Medical Librarians,” which is held annually in Denver, CO. Schardt also codirects the Australian Evidence Based Practice Librarians’ Institute, a three-day workshop for medical librarians held in different locations in Australia.

Additional Information: http://www.mlanet.org/blog/are-all-systematic-reviews-created-equal

Directions and parking information: http://library.utsouthwestern.edu/about/directions.cfm

Location: Library Admin Conference Room (E3.314E)

While the Library is badge-access only, you are able to get to the conference room without a badge; you just need to walk a little more.  Instead of entering the Library’s front entrance, turn to the left (stay inside the building!) and follow the corridor (past the UTSW Nobel Laureate portraits!) until you get to the Building E elevator lobby (to the left of the University seals).  Take the elevators or stairs up one level (to the 3rd floor) and then follow the signs to the Library Admin Office Suite.