How to provide more timely and reliable evaluations of the effects of interventions: a new Framework for Adaptive Meta-analysis (FAME)

Workshop category: 

  • Innovative solutions to challenges of evidence production
Date and Location

Date: 

Tuesday 18 September 2018 - 11:00 to 12:30

Location: 

Lennox 1
Contact persons and facilitators

Contact person:

Claire Vale
Jayne Tierney

Facilitators:

Vale C1, Tierney J1
1 IPD Meta-analysis Methods Group, United Kingdom

Acknowledgements:

Fisher D1, Burdett S1, Rydzewska L1
1 , UK
Target audience

Target audience: 

Review authors, researchers

Level of difficulty: 

Intermediate
Type of workshop

Type of workshop : 

Training
Abstract

Abstract:

Background:
Most systematic reviews of efficacy are retrospective and use published aggregate data (AD), with the potential impact of unpublished/ongoing trials often overlooked. This means they can be unreliable, lag behind therapeutic developments and fail to influence ongoing or new trials. We have developed a Framework for Adaptive Meta-analysis (FAME), which combines a prospective, proactive and collaborative approach with the fundamental components of good systematic review and meta-analysis methodology. FAME takes all relevant trials into account and allows us to adapt quickly to emerging results, so that we can determine, in advance, the earliest opportunity for reliable aggregate data meta-analysis.

Objectives:
In this workshop we aim to guide participants in using FAME to:
- Prospectively plan systematic reviews and meta-analyses
- Improve the timeliness and reliability of review results
- Help with planning and prioritisation across related reviews
We will illustrate the implementation of FAME in systematic reviews of the effects of interventions in prostate cancer(1, 2), showing how it has helped us to speed up the delivery of reliable and transparent evidence to patients, clinicians and policy makers.
We also show how it has increased efficiency of the review process, and improved the accessibility of impact of review results.

Description:
The 90-minute workshop will be broken up into a mixture of lecture, small group discussion and small group practical activities. The workshop will start with a short session on the background and rationale for FAME, followed by a whole-group discussion around when to start a new review. We will then give a short description of the key principles of FAME, demonstrating implementation and impact based on real examples, with a question and answer session. We will then lead a practical exercise, where participants use the FAME approach to prospectively map the potential trial evidence for a systematic review, with feedback. We will end the session by discussing the strengths and limitations of FAME, including a comparison to other approaches, with time for questions and clarification before summing up.

References:
1) Vale CL, et al. Lancet Oncology. 2016;17(2):243-56.
2) Rydzewska LHM, et al. Eur J Cancer. 2017;84:88-101.

Relevance to patients and consumers: 

Sometimes standard systematic reviews can take a long time and so cannot keep up to date with the newest therapies. We have developed this Framework for Adaptive Meta-analysis (FAME), to show quickly and reliably which treatments work best, so that we can have greater influence on patients, clinicians and policy-makers. For example, FAME has helped accelerate access to life-saving treatments for men with prostate cancer. No patients will be involved in delivering this workshop; however, men with prostate cancer have been involved in the design and conduct of some of the examples we will draw on in the workshop.