
Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis: A Practical Workshop for Research and Publication
Learn how to plan, screen, appraise, synthesize, and report research evidence using systematic review and meta-analysis workflows.
Skills you will gain:
About Program:
Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis: From Search Strategy to Evidence Synthesis is a 3-day mentor-led workshop that guides participants through the complete workflow of planning, conducting, and reporting a systematic review with an introduction to meta-analysis.
Participants will learn how to formulate review questions, develop search strategies, define eligibility criteria, manage references, screen studies, extract data, assess study quality, and synthesize evidence using tools such as **Zotero, Rayyan, CASP, JBI checklists, RoB 2, and ROBINS-I**.
The workshop is suitable for researchers, PhD scholars, academicians, healthcare professionals, postgraduate students, and professionals preparing literature reviews, theses, publications, policy studies, or evidence-based research projects.
Aim:
The aim of this workshop is to equip participants with the conceptual understanding and practical skills required to conduct systematic reviews and understand the basics of meta-analysis using structured, transparent, and publication-oriented research workflows.
The workshop focuses on helping participants move from a research question to a documented review protocol, search strategy, screening process, quality appraisal matrix, and mini evidence synthesis summary.
Program Objectives:
- Plan a systematic review workflow.
- Frame review questions using PICO/PECO/SPIDER/PCC.
- Build search strategies and manage references.
- Screen studies and prepare a PRISMA-style summary.
- Create data extraction and quality appraisal tables.
- Understand evidence synthesis, forest plots, and meta-analysis basics.
- Prepare a concise review summary for research reporting.
What you will learn?
📅 Day 1: Planning the Review and Search Strategy
Focus
Understanding the fundamentals of systematic reviews, review question development, eligibility criteria, and structured search planning.
Topics Covered
- Systematic review vs narrative review vs scoping review vs meta-analysis
- Formulating review questions using PICO, PECO, SPIDER, and PCC
- Defining inclusion and exclusion criteria
- Selecting databases for literature search
- Creating Boolean search strings and documenting search strategy
- Reference management and duplicate removal using Zotero
Tools / Practical Platforms
- Zotero
- PICO / PECO / SPIDER / PCC frameworks
- PRISMA-style workflow
Hands-on Session
- Review Question Development: Participants will create a structured review question using PICO, PECO, SPIDER, or PCC.
- Eligibility Criteria Preparation: Participants will define inclusion and exclusion criteria for their review topic.
- Search Strategy and Reference Organization: Participants will build a Boolean search strategy and organize references in Zotero.
📅 Day 2: Screening, Data Extraction, and Quality Appraisal
Focus
Learning how to screen studies, track decisions, extract data, and assess study quality using structured review methods.
Topics Covered
- Title, abstract, and full-text screening process
- Inclusion and exclusion decision tracking
- PRISMA-style flow diagram preparation
- Designing a data extraction table
- Extracting study characteristics and outcomes
- Risk of bias and quality appraisal basics
Tools / Practical Platforms
- Rayyan
- CASP Checklists
- JBI Checklists
- RoB 2 / ROBINS-I Guidance
Hands-on Session
- Study Screening: Participants will screen sample studies using inclusion and exclusion criteria.
- PRISMA Flow Summary: Participants will prepare a PRISMA-style study selection summary.
- Extraction and Appraisal Matrix: Participants will create a data extraction and quality appraisal matrix.
📅 Day 3: Evidence Synthesis and Meta-Analysis Basics
Focus
Understanding evidence synthesis methods, basic meta-analysis concepts, and interpretation of forest plots and pooled results.
Topics Covered
- Narrative synthesis vs quantitative synthesis
- Effect sizes and outcome measures
- Fixed-effect and random-effects models
- Heterogeneity and I² interpretation
- Forest plots and funnel plots
- PRISMA-style reporting and publication preparation
Tools / Practical Platforms
- Forest plot interpretation tools
- Evidence synthesis summary template
- PRISMA-style reporting checklist
Hands-on Session
- Forest Plot Interpretation: Participants will generate or interpret a basic forest plot.
- Evidence Synthesis Summary: Participants will prepare a concise evidence synthesis summary.
- Publication-Ready Reporting: Participants will organize key findings for PRISMA-style research reporting.
Mentor Profile
Fee Plan
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Intended For :
Career Supporting Skills
Program Outcomes
