Workshop on Systematic Review and Meta- Analysis 2024

November 08, 2024

The workshop on Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis was organized by Ph.D. vertical of Pillar II Exemplary Research and Innovation, Manipal College of Nursing, Manipal Academy of Higher Education (MAHE) Manipal on 5th and 6th November 2024 from 9.00 am to 5.00 pm. Dr. Judith A. Noronha, Dean, Manipal College of Nursing, Manipal, welcomed the gathering. Dr Baby S. Nayak, Professor & Convenor of the program, provided an overview of the workshop. The chief guest, Dr Cherian Varghese, Professor & Director, Prasanna School of Public Health, MAHE, Manipal, addressed the participants about the need for systematic review in bringing about changes in clinical practice. He also emphasized that Meta- Analysis is the best approach to generate evidence.

The first session of the day was titled Introduction to Systematic Reviews and Development of a Systematic Review Protocol, including PROSPERO Registration, presented by Dr Shalini G Nayak, Assistant Professor, Medical Surgical Nursing, MCON Manipal. She summarized the steps of systematic review, brainstormed using the examples published in the journal article. Participants were made to register in the PROSPERO and the steps of PROSPERO registration were explained. The next session was on framing a systematic review question by Dr Sushmitha R. Karkada, Assistant Professor, Dept. of OBG Nursing. The participants were given group activity on framing a research question after the explanation by the speaker. The different frameworks for reviewing questions were discussed for the different study designs.

The post lunch session was on formulating a search strategy and database search by Dr Baby S. Nayak, Professor & Head, Department of Child Health Nursing. Dr Baby summarized formulating a search strategy and provided hands-on experience to the participants to perform a search using the database. The last session of day one of the workshop was on data collection and de-duplication of studies using Rayyan software by Mrs. Prima JJ D Souza, Assistant Professor, Department of Fundamentals of Nursing. She gave an overview of simplicity of Rayyan software for the systematic review over the Microsoft excel sheet. The Participants were provided with hands on session on usage of Rayyan software.

The second day of the workshop started with the session on selection of studies and data extraction by Dr Anupama D. S., Research Fellow, Department of Global Health Governance, Prasanna School of Public Health. She explained the selection of studies, the screening process, data collection tools, data collection forms, and challenges faced during data extraction. The next session was on PRISMA and reporting systematic review by Ms Mitchelle S. Lewis, Lecturer, Department of Fundamentals of Nursing, summarized the PRISMA 2020 item checklist and scope of PRISMA guidelines, followed by the session on Introduction to meta-analysis by Dr Vasudeva Gudattu, Professor, Department of Data Sciences, Prasanna School of Public Health, who threw the light on introduction to meta-analysis, effect measure, pooled estimate, approaches to meta-analysis and benefits of meta-analysis.

The post lunch session was on Assessing risk of bias by Dr Judith A. Noronha, Dean, Manipal College of Nursing. Dr Judith elaborated on risk of bias, tools for risk of bias, ROB II, sources of risk of bias CONSORT flow chart, general procedures for risk of bias, randomization, and blinding. Thereafter, a session on RevMan Software, it’s uses, and statistical analysis was taken by Dr Anil Raj A, Assistant Professor, Department of Medical Surgical Nursing. Dr. Judith A. Noronha delivered the closing remarks, expressing appreciation for the active participation of attendees and the success of the workshop. Dr Judith also distributed certificates of participation to all attendees, and participants shared their feedback on the workshop’s content and structure. The workshop contributed to Sustainable Development Goal 4: Quality Education. The workshop benefited 28 participants from various disciplines and states of the country. The workshop was convened by Dr Baby S. Nayak and Dr Shalini G. Nayak, under the guidance of Dr Judith A. Noronha, Dean, Manipal College of Nursing and Dr Tessy Treesa Jose, Head, Pillar II Exemplary Research and Innovation.