Synopses & Reviews
For many healthcare professionals there is a mystery surrounding systematic reviews of healthcare literature. How did they select certain studies and reject others? What did they do to pool results? How did a bunch of insignificant findings suddenly become significant? With this book you will embark on a journey that will provide the key information required to demystify these intrigues. By understanding the principles behind reviews of healthcare literature, you will be able to assess the credibility of the recommendations handed down to you in published reviews and practice guidelines. Following the success of the first edition, Systematic Reviews to Support Evidence-based Medicine simplifies and explains the key steps involved in reviewing literature, directing its deliberations at a readership of nurses, doctors, allied health professionals, public health personnel, new reviewers and students of epidemiology and health technology assessment. This second edition retains the strong emphasis on effectiveness, but the reader is presented with six brand new case studies, and all of the original material has been thoroughly edited and revised to bring it up to date and bring it in line with current knowledge. The authors are veterans of over 150 systematic reviews. Over the years they have worked with healthcare commissioners, clinicians and other decision-makers, producing reviews to inform policy and practice. They have collaborated with other epidemiologists and statisticians to advance methods for undertaking systematic reviews and between them, they have a wide and appropriate range of experience of reviewing and applying findings of healthcare research. Written in a concise and easy-to-digest form, and avoiding technical jargon, Systematic Reviews to Support Evidence-based Medicine remains a must-read for all healthcare professionals.
Review
"This second edition is justified and timely. Ever since the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, there has been great emphasis on comparative effectiveness of evidence-based research such as systematic literature reviews. This well-written, step-by-step guide takes a complex topic and breaks it down into manageable, easy to understand pieces. I would recommend this book for both those new to the field and those who have performed systematic reviews in the past but would like to learn new methods." -- Doody's
Synopsis
Authoritative, clear, concise, and practical, this highly acclaimed book continues to be an essential text for all medical, surgical and health professionals who want to have an easily accessible, quick reference to systematically reviewing the literature.
- Learn about the key steps to reviewing the literature
- Carry out your own reviews with expert guidance
- Assess the credibility of recommendations in published reviews and practice guidelines
New for the second edition
- Many new case studies
- Examples from medicine, surgery, health professions and consumer information
- Expanded, updated and revised with practical guidelines and invaluable advice
The authors are veterans of over 150 systematic reviews and have helped form policy and practice. They have ensured that this concise, practical text, which avoids technical jargon, continues to be the first reference for all health professionals undertaking literature reviews.