Systematic review and meta-analysis are key inputs to healthcare decision-making.  They provide important insight into the comparative effectiveness of health technologies based on a systematic appraisal of evidence.  These methods have become an integral part of health technology appraisals in many jurisdictions.  The recently developed methods of network meta-analysis facilitate the comparison of technologies that have not been directly compared in trials based on the synthesis of direct and indirect evidence.
 

Who is the course aimed at?

This three-day course is designed for health technology assessment practitioners, health service researchers and healthcare professionals who are interested in learning the key concepts involved in the design and undertaking of systematic reviews and meta-analyses.

What are the learning objectives?

At the end of the course, participants should be able to:
• Design and conduct high quality systematic reviews
• Conduct appropriate meta-analyses using Stata
• Explore bias and heterogeneity
• Identify the important aspects of network meta-analysis

What will the course cover?

This course will explore the principles and the practice of conducting a systematic review and meta-analysis through a mixture of presentations from members of the Faculty, together with computer-based exercises using Stata.

Outline Programme

Day 1
• Basic principles of systematic review and meta-analysis
• The process of a systematic review
• Identifying relevant literature
• Measures of effects and pooling data

Day 2
• Critical appraisal
• Dealing with bias and heterogeneity

Day 3
• Basic principles and terminology of indirect comparisons
• Dealing with heterogeneity in indirect comparisons
• Presentation of results and underlying assumptions of indirect comparisons
• Current opinions on indirect comparisons
• WinBUGS demonstration

Prerequisites

Participants should have knowledge of basic medical statistics.  A basic appreciation of research design would be helpful, as would basic knowledge of STATA .  A one day introduction to Stata is available on  April for those less familiar with the software.

The course will be 'hands-on', and participants are required to bring a laptop computer (and mouse).  The course will use STATA.  Enrolled participants who do not have STATA will be provided with a temporary STATA licence.  The installing of WinBUGS prior to the course is also recommended.  The program can be downloaded free of charge from here.

The next course will take place in April 2014. 

Please contact Caroline Cecil, HEHTA, Institute of Health & Wellbeing, University of Glasgow on 0141 330 5292 or e-mail ihw-hehta@glasgow.ac.uk for more information.

The Glasgow course will take place at the Wolfson Medical School Building on the University campus. It is also only a short underground trip away from the City Centre. The course is non-residential, but preferential rates are available at several local hotels by contacting our Conference and Visitor Services Office for details (see below).  

A map showing the locations of some hotels in the West End and the City Centre is available from Caroline Cecil at ihw-hehta@glasgow.ac.uk. More details about accommodation and a hotel booking service are available from the University of Glasgow's Conference & Visitor Services Office.

Travel directions, a University map and information about Glasgow University is available from: http://www.gla.ac.uk/about/maps/

Olivia Wu, Reader in Health Economics and Health Technology Assessment (HEHTA), University of Glasgow

Olivia leads the Evidence Synthesis Research Programme within HEHTA.  Her research focuses on evidence synthesis, risk prediction modelling and economic evaluation of health care interventions.  Olivia has extensive experience in applying these methodologies in a variety of clinical areas.

In addition to her research work, Olivia is a member of the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence Technology Appraisal Committee.  She also supports the development of clinical guidelines developed by the Scottish Intercollegiate Guidelines Network, both in evidence synthesis and health economics.

Neil Hawkins PhD, CStat, Vice President (Health Economics) of Oxford Outcomes and Honorary Professor in Health Economics at the University of Glasgow

Neil has experience in the academic, research-based pharmaceutical and consultancy sectors.  Over the last ten years, he has focused on health technology assessment, specialising in evidence synthesis and decision-analytic modelling.  Previously he contributed to basic life science, clinical and epidemiological research.
He is active in methodological research and has recently published articles discussing methods for indirect comparisons, cost-effectiveness modelling, value based pricing and the placebo effect.  Neil was also a member of the International Society For Pharmacoeconomics and Outcomes (ISPOR) task force considering indirect comparisons and is heading a project sponsored by the Pharmaceutical Oncology Initiative reviewing methods for synthesis and survival modelling in the evaluation of oncology products.

Michele Hilton Boon MA, MLIS, MPH, Programme Manager, Knowledge & Information Unit, Healthcare Improvement Scotland

Michele specialises in critical appraisal and information retrieval to support evidence-based improvement in healthcare.  Her current work focuses on the evidence base for the Scottish national cancer quality programme and the implementation of standards for sexual health and blood borne viruses.  She also works on Rare-Bestpractices, an international project that fosters the development, dissemination and quality assurance of rare disease guidelines.  Having worked for the Scottish Intercollegiate Guidelines Network for over four years, she participated in guideline development and evidence review in areas such as stroke, asthma, mental health, sexual health, dermatology and rheumatology.
 
In addition, tutors from HEHTA will be involved in all practical exercises to ensure there will be approximately one tutor for every five participants.

The next course will take place in April 2014.  To register for this course, click here.

Please contact Caroline Cecil, HEHTA, Institute of Health & Wellbeing, University of Glasgow on 0141 330 5292 or e-mail ihw-hehta@glasgow.ac.uk for more information.

Fees 2014

Public/academic £950
Commercial sector £1,480

Fees are fully inclusive of tuition, lunch, course dinner, and course materials but do not include accommodation. VAT is not payable.

 Cancellation

The fee is payable in advance. A refund of the course fee (less 10% administrative charge) will be made for cancellations received in writing one month prior to the course date (March 2014). Cancellations made after that date are non refundable. Substitutions are allowed but please fax new delegate details when known.