Systematic reviews of prognostic studies II: 'Risk of bias' assessment in systematic reviews of prognostic studies

Workshop category: 

  • Other topics
Date and Location

Date: 

Sunday 16 September 2018 - 16:00 to 17:30

Location: 

Contact persons and facilitators

Contact person:

Facilitators:

Moons K1, Wolff R2, Whiting P3, Hooft L4, Damen J4, Riley R5, Mallett S6
1 Julius Center for Health Sciences and Primary Care, Netherlands
2 Kleijnen Systematic Reviews Ltd, United Kingdom
3 University of Bristol, United Kingdom
4 Cochrane Netherlands, Netherlands
5 Prognosis Methods Group, United Kingdom
6 University of Birmingham, United Kingdom

Acknowledgements:

Cochrane Prognosis Methods Group 1, Hayden J2
1 Cochrane, United Kingdom
2 Department of Community Health & Epidemiology, Dalhousie University, Canada
Target audience

Target audience: 

Reviewers with an interest in systematic reviews of prognostic studies

Level of difficulty: 

Intermediate
Type of workshop

Type of workshop : 

Training
Abstract

Abstract:

Background:
Prognosis is a description of the probable course of individuals with a health condition. Review and synthesis of prognostic factor and prognostic model studies is a relatively new and evolving area. Critical appraisal of prognostic studies is challenging, but essential to assess and identify biases that are sufficiently large to distort study results.

The QUIPS, CHARMS and PROBAST tools are useful and reliable for the assessment of risk of bias in studies of prognostic factors and models. All three tools are domain-driven with signalling items developed to guide review authors to set up a data extraction list, or to assess the risk of bias in a study.

Objectives:
This workshop will familiarise participants with sources of bias in prognostic factor and prognostic model studies, and introduce participants to the QUIPS, CHARMS and PROBAST tools.

Description:
This interactive workshop will inform and train participants on systematic reviews of prognostic factors and models. The workshop will be split into two sessions. The first session will give an overview of the QUIPS, CHARMS and PROBAST tools and guidance on how to use these. In the second half of the workshop, participants will have the opportunity to experience these new tools and to discuss issues with the creators of the tools.

Relevance to patients and consumers: 

Our workshop will train future authors on conducting reviews of prognostic studies that address patient-relevant clinical questions in prognosis research. It will train them to assess how primary prognostic studies have been conducted, and assess whether they address patient-relevant outcomes. Our workshop aims to encourage review authors to involve patients in the prioritization of patient-relevant outcomes, and give recommendations on how primary prognostic research should involve patients and consumers in future research.