Systematic review publications are important to health care and policy decisions, but they are not without their limitations.  Understanding these limitations, and being able to instruct patrons on them, is a key component of our work as health sciences information professionals. This session will provide a detailed discussion of the impact of biases, publication delays and methodologic quality of systematic reviews, particularly on their application in clinical practice.  The presenters will also give an overview of systematic review appraisal, including interpretation of commonly reported statistical measures.

Registration Information

• Length: 1.5 hour recorded webinar
• Technical information: You will receive a link to the recorded program and the participant's manual after registration.
• Cost:
  • Individuals: $59 (nonmembers, $99)
• Register, participate, and earn 1.5 MLA continuing education (CE) contact hours.

Presenters

Mark MacEachern is an informationist in the Taubman Health Sciences Library at the University of Michigan–Ann Arbor. In this role, he works closely with faculty and students throughout the University of Michigan Health System and other relevant units on education and research projects. MacEachern is heavily involved in the evidence-based practice components of the medical, pharmacy, and dental curricula, and regularly teaches systematic review content to residents, fellows, and research faculty. He has extensive experience consulting and partnering on systematic review projects and was part of team recently awarded funding to develop a – National Network of Libraries of Medicine Greater Midwest Region (GMR)–funded systematic review workshop designed to empower information professionals with strategies to participate in systematic review initiatives in their environment. He is active in both the Michigan Health Sciences Libraries Association and MLA.

Whitney A. Townsend is an informationist and coordinator of the Health Sciences Executive Research Service in the Taubman Health Sciences Library at the University of Michigan–Ann Arbor. She partners with the  faculty and staff of numerous clinical departments of the University of Michigan Health System to best address information needs related to their clinical, research, and academic missions. Townsend is deeply embedded in curriculum-integrated instruction in the medical school and is actively involved in integrating information skills components into the school’s current curriculum reform. Townsend has been a member of numerous systematic review teams; teaches a session on systematic review appraisal for third-year medical students; instructs on systematic review searching and information management for residents, fellows, and faculty; and is an instructor for a GMR-funded systematic review workshop.