No stone unturned: rigour versus relevance in systematic reviews

• Author / Creator

  Shamseer, Larissa

• INTRODUCTION
  Antioxidant micronutrients may help alleviate oxidative stress in cystic fibrosis (CF) lung disease. To determine treatment effect, systematic reviews (SR) synthesize available evidence. Cochrane SRs are known for being methodologically rigourous, however, may have limited
  generalizability.

  OBJECTIVES
  To assess effectiveness of antioxidant micronutrients in CF lung disease using Cochrane and non-Cochrane SR methodology; to determine whether Cochrane SRs trade relevance for rigour

  METHODS
  The first SR followed Cochrane-preferred methods, while the non-Cochrane SR employed a broader search strategy and nclusion criteria. Reviews were contrasted regarding yield of search, treatment effect (efficacy and safety) and risk of bias.

  RESULTS
  Neither SR had enough data to support or refute efficacy or safety of antioxidant supplementation in CF lung disease. Compared to the Cochrane SR, the non-Cochrane SR had four more included studies, more precise estimates of efficacy, additional harms data and a similar risk of bias.

  CONCLUSION
  Broader search strategies and inclusion criteria may improve relevance of Cochrane SRs without compromising rigour.

• Subjects / Keywords

  • Systematic reviews
  • Antioxidants
  • Methodology
  • Cystic fibrosis

• Graduation date

  Spring 2010

• Type of Item

  Thesis

• Degree

  Master of Science

• DOI

  https://doi.org/10.7939/R3B67P

• License

  This thesis is made available by the University of Alberta Libraries with permission of the copyright owner solely for non-commercial purposes. This thesis, or any portion thereof, may not otherwise be copied or reproduced without the written consent of the copyright owner, except to the extent permitted by Canadian copyright law.