Session outline
This workshop with introduce systematic reviews in evidence-based practice and how to use them in clinical decision-making. It will also provide guidance to health professionals who want to develop, conduct, and publish their own systematic reviews.
There is a growing number of systematic reviews being published globally but also a need for more systematic reviews in the field of rehabilitation medicine. This workshop is specifically designed to provide participants with a comprehensive understanding of the process of writing and publishing a systematic review, focusing on topics related to interprofessional rehabilitation.
The workshop will commence by emphasizing the significance of systematic reviews as one of the highest forms of evidence in healthcare sciences. Participants will gain insights into the pivotal role of systematic reviews in informing clinical decisions. The workshop facilitators, who have extensive experience in conducting systematic reviews and are associated with Cochrane Rehabilitation, will bring their expertise to guide participants through the workshop.
The workshop will offer a step-by-step framework for conducting a high-quality systematic review. Participants will learn the essential components of writing a systematic review and will be provided with examples to enhance their understanding. Emphasis will be placed on strategies to ensure the rigor and accuracy of the review process. Moreover, the facilitators will share valuable resources and references to further assist participants in refining their knowledge and skills.
Recognizing the challenges researchers often face in writing and publishing a systematic review in international journals, the workshop aims to equip participants with practical strategies and resources to support writing for publication. Participants will learn how to write their systematic review to meet the standards of high-quality international journals.
By targeting healthcare professionals with an interest in rehabilitation sciences, the workshop creates an environment conducive to collaboration and knowledge-sharing. Participants will have the opportunity to engage with like-minded professionals, exchange ideas, and gain insights from their peers. The workshop’s content will be specifically tailored to address the unique challenges, methodologies, and resources relevant to conducting systematic reviews in the field of rehabilitation sciences.
By the end of the workshop, participants will have a clear understanding of the importance of systematic reviews, a comprehensive framework for writing and publishing a systematic review in the field of rehabilitation, and access to valuable resources to support their ongoing learning. The workshop facilitators’ prior experience in delivering this workshop at multiple locations enhances the workshop’s credibility and ensures that participants receive expert guidance and knowledge to successfully undertake systematic reviews in their research endeavours.
Learning outcomes
Workshop attendees will be provided with the knowledge and skills to address five learning outcomes:
- Understand foundational concepts and principles of systematic reviews, including their significance in evidence-based medicine and their role in informing healthcare decisions in rehabilitation.
- Gain proficiency in the process of writing a high-quality systematic review, encompassing essential components such as formulating research questions, designing search strategies, selecting and assessing relevant studies, and analysing and synthesizing findings with rigor and transparency.
- Identify resources and tools that support the systematic review process, exploring databases, repositories, search engines, software, and online tools crucial for locating relevant studies, managing data, screening, and conducting analysis.
- Develop skills in critically appraising and synthesizing research evidence, including techniques for assessing quality, identifying bias, and synthesizing data extracted from multiple studies to draw meaningful conclusions and address gaps in existing literature.
- Navigate the process of publishing a systematic review in international journals by gaining insights into expectations and guidelines set by reputable journals. Acquire strategies for structuring and presenting a systematic review manuscript effectively, covering key sections such as introduction, methods, results, and discussion.
By equipping participants with a comprehensive understanding of systematic reviews, proficiency in conducting high-quality reviews, familiarity with resources and tools, critical appraisal skills, and knowledge of the publishing process, this workshop will empower participants to contribute to evidence-based practice and research in the field of rehabilitation sciences through well-executed systematic reviews.
Target audience
This workshop will benefit any healthcare professionals, research students, and new and emerging healthcare scientists who are currently involved in, or plan to conduct and publish, a systematic review, including but not limited to physicians, physiotherapists, occupational therapist, speech language therapist, podiatrists, orthotists, and psychologists.
