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LSTM runs for second time DFID commissioned primer course in systematic reviews

Friday, 23 Mar 2018
Bangladesh, Kenya, Myanmar, Mozambique, Nigeria, Uganda, Tanzania and Scotland, UK: DFID health advisers from all corners of the globe came to LSTM for a 2-day course on systematic reviews following their annual advisers meeting. This builds on the success of last year’s course, and aims to help advisers identify, appraise and deliver accurate assessment of evidence for decisions.

“This changes the way I look at evidence forever!” one participant commented as the course took them through some of the latest methods and debates in the field, including the influence of conflicts of interest on decision making. The course built on the 20-year engagement of Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine with establishing evidence synthesis in Cochrane, now even more important as there is clear consensus that evidence synthesis is essential to link research and decision making.

The course discussed the need multidisciplinary teams led by methodologists who are independent and at the forefront of the latest methods and approaches to avoid bias. It included reviews from the Cochrane Infectious Diseases Group, whose editorial base is at LSTM, and qualitative synthesis being carried out with colleagues in Cape Town and London.

“Globalize the evidence, localize the decision' said John Eisenberg in 2002, and now we have transparent methods to do both",  said Professor Paul Garner. “Having advisers that can effectively draw on the resources and methods available will ensure that UKAid can maintain effective aid spend. We have been delighted to run this course for DFID for the second time and to provide the participants with a structured approach to applying research syntheses in a particular setting".

This news article was first published on the LSTM website

 

The CIDG editorial base is located at the Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine in Liverpool, UK. The CIDG is led by Professor Paul Garner (Co-ordinating Editor) and Deirdre Walshe (Managing Editor). Over 600 authors from some 52 countries contribute to the preparation of the Cochrane Reviews. They are supported by an international team of Editors, each with topic or methodological expertise. 

The CIDG’s main areas of work are on determination of the effects of interventions on the prevention or treatment infectious diseases of relevance to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, particularly malaria, tuberculosis, HIV/AIDS, and neglected tropical diseases. The aims of the CIDG are to impact on policy and research in tropical diseases through the production of high quality and relevant systematic reviews, and to lead developments in review quality improvement and effective dissemination of findings.