We will introduce methods to perform systematic reviews and meta-analysis of clinical trials. We will cover how to formulate an answerable research question, define inclusion and exclusion criteria, search for the evidence, extract data, assess the risk of bias in clinical trials, and perform a meta-analysis.
Upon successfully completing this course, participants will be able to:
- Describe the steps in conducting a systematic review
- Develop an answerable question using the “Participants Interventions Comparisons Outcomes” (PICO) framework
- Describe the process used to collect and extract data from reports of clinical trials
- Describe methods to critically assess the risk of bias of clinical trials
- Describe and interpret the results of meta-analyses
To get the ball rolling, we'll take a broad overview of what to expect in this course and then introduce you to the high-level concepts of systematic review and meta-analysis and take a look at who produces and uses systematic reviews.
What's included
5 videos3 readings
Show info about module content
5 videos•Total 40 minutes
Welcome to Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis •2 minutes
Lecture 1A : Introduction to Systematic Reviews•15 minutes
Lecture 1B: Introduction to Meta-Analysis•13 minutes
Lecture 1C: Producers and Users of Systematic Reviews•8 minutes
Hannah Rothstein, PhD•1 minute
3 readings•Total 30 minutes
Syllabus•10 minutes
Pre Course Survey•10 minutes
From the Field Videos•10 minutes
Framing the Question
Module 2•4 hours to complete
Module details
In this module, we will discuss how to frame a question, as well as scope, elements, and refining the question.
What's included
7 videos1 reading1 assignment1 peer review
Show info about module content
7 videos•Total 73 minutes
Lecture 2A: Resources for How to Frame Your Question•7 minutes
Lecture 2B: Deciding the Type and Scope of Your Question•18 minutes
Lecture 2C: Elements of the Question•17 minutes
Lecture 2D: Refining the Question•11 minutes
Lecture 2E: Some Examples•9 minutes
Lecture 2F: Analytic Frameworks•10 minutes
Betsy Becker, PhD•2 minutes
1 reading•Total 10 minutes
Welcome to the first Peer Assignment!•10 minutes
1 assignment•Total 30 minutes
Module 2•30 minutes
1 peer review•Total 120 minutes
Peer Assessment 1•120 minutes
Searching Principles and Bias Assessment
Module 3•3 hours to complete
Module details
In this module we will look at finding the evidence, as well as key sources, search strategy, and assessing the risk of bias.
What's included
11 videos2 assignments
Show info about module content
11 videos•Total 119 minutes
Searching Principles and Assessing Bias •3 minutes
Lecture 3A: Finding the Evidence: Searching Principles•6 minutes
Lecture 3B: Identifying Key Sources and Techniques for Searching•18 minutes
Lecture 3C: Building a High-Quality Search Strategy•17 minutes
Lecture 3D: Documenting Your Search and Conclusions•8 minutes
Lecture 4A: Why Bias in the Individual Study is Important to a Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis•7 minutes
Lecture 4B: Selection Bias•19 minutes
Lecture 4C: Information Bias•8 minutes
Lecture 4D: Bias in the Analysis•15 minutes
Lecture 4E: Displaying Study "Quality" in Your Systematic Review•16 minutes
Byron Wallace, Phd•2 minutes
2 assignments•Total 60 minutes
Module 3•30 minutes
Module 4•30 minutes
Minimizing Metabias, Qualitative Synthesis, and Interpreting Results
Module 4•2 hours to complete
Module details
In this module, we will cover minimizing metabias, selection bias, information bias, how to report transparently, qualitative synthesis, and interpreting results.
What's included
9 videos2 assignments
Show info about module content
9 videos•Total 88 minutes
Lecture 5A: Standards for Systematic Reviews•6 minutes
Lecture 5B: Selection Bias•22 minutes
Lecture 5C: Information Bias•13 minutes
Lecture 5D: Bias in the Analysis•15 minutes
Lecture 5E: Reporting Transparently•7 minutes
Lecture 6A: Qualitative Synthesis and Interpreting Results Section A•7 minutes
Lecture 6B: What is Qualitative Synthesis•10 minutes
Lecture 6C: Some Examples•6 minutes
Christopher Schmid, PhD•1 minute
2 assignments•Total 60 minutes
Module 5•30 minutes
Module 6•30 minutes
Planning the Meta-Analysis and Statistical Methods
Module 5•3 hours to complete
Module details
This module will cover the planning of your meat-analysis and the statistical methods for meta-analysis.
What's included
9 videos2 assignments
Show info about module content
9 videos•Total 109 minutes
Planning Meta-Analysis and Statistical Methods •1 minute
Lecture 7A: Planning Your Meta-Analysis Section A•8 minutes
Lecture 7B: Introduction to Meta-Analysis•15 minutes
Lecture 7C: Why Do a Meta-Analysis?•11 minutes
Lecture 7D: Types of Data and Effect Measures•20 minutes
Lecture 8A: Fixed Effect Model•21 minutes
Lecture 8B: Random Effects Model•15 minutes
Lecture 8C: Random Effects Model•17 minutes
Michael Borenstein, PhD•2 minutes
2 assignments•Total 60 minutes
Module 7•30 minutes
Module 8•30 minutes
Wrap Up and Final Peer Review Assignment
Module 6•1 hour to complete
Module details
In this final module, we'll wrap up with a look back at the key concepts covered over the past few weeks. Afterwards, you will submit your final Peer Review Assignment and evaluate some of your classmates' submissions.
What's included
2 videos1 reading1 peer review
Show info about module content
2 videos•Total 13 minutes
Lecture 9A: Wrap Up•11 minutes
Closing Remarks •2 minutes
1 reading•Total 10 minutes
Welcome to Your Final Peer Review Assignment•10 minutes
1 peer review•Total 60 minutes
Peer Review Assignment 2•60 minutes
Instructors
Instructor ratings
Instructor ratings
We asked all learners to give feedback on our instructors based on the quality of their teaching style.
The mission of The Johns Hopkins University is to educate its students and cultivate their capacity for life-long learning, to foster independent and original research, and to bring the benefits of discovery to the world.
"To be able to take courses at my own pace and rhythm has been an amazing experience. I can learn whenever it fits my schedule and mood."
Jennifer J.
Learner since 2020
"I directly applied the concepts and skills I learned from my courses to an exciting new project at work."
Larry W.
Learner since 2021
"When I need courses on topics that my university doesn't offer, Coursera is one of the best places to go."
Chaitanya A.
"Learning isn't just about being better at your job: it's so much more than that. Coursera allows me to learn without limits."
Learner reviews
4.8
3,590 reviews
5 stars
79.69%
4 stars
17.85%
3 stars
1.89%
2 stars
0.33%
1 star
0.22%
Showing 3 of 3590
B
BK
5·
Reviewed on Sep 1, 2019
This course helps to learn basics about systematic review and meta-analysis. I recommend this course to the beginners, who wants to do systematic review in future. Thank you John Hopkins!
V
VF
5·
Reviewed on Aug 7, 2020
Very informative and a great introduction for graduate students. I hope the skills and knowledge I have learned in the course can help me succeed in writing my own systematic review.
K
KA
5·
Reviewed on Feb 12, 2017
Incredible course! You learned a lot from these amazing professors. If you take this course you will know how to do a high quality systematic review and even a meta analysis and publish them.
When will I have access to the lectures and assignments?
To access the course materials, assignments and to earn a Certificate, you will need to purchase the Certificate experience when you enroll in a course. You can try a Free Trial instead, or apply for Financial Aid. The course may offer 'Full Course, No Certificate' instead. This option lets you see all course materials, submit required assessments, and get a final grade. This also means that you will not be able to purchase a Certificate experience.
What will I get if I purchase the Certificate?
When you purchase a Certificate you get access to all course materials, including graded assignments. Upon completing the course, your electronic Certificate will be added to your Accomplishments page - from there, you can print your Certificate or add it to your LinkedIn profile.
Is financial aid available?
Yes. In select learning programs, you can apply for financial aid or a scholarship if you can’t afford the enrollment fee. If fin aid or scholarship is available for your learning program selection, you’ll find a link to apply on the description page.