HEDS is part of the School of Health and Related Research (ScHARR) at the University of Sheffield. We undertake research, teaching, training and consultancy on all aspects of health related decision science, with a particular emphasis on health economics, HTA and evidence synthesis.

Tuesday 5 May 2015

Systematic Reviews Toolbox

At a recent HEDS Seminar, Chris Marshall talked to us about automated systematic review (SR) tools and his development of the SR Toolbox.

Image by Daren via Flickr CC BY 2.0
The Systematic Review (SR) Toolbox is a searchable online catalogue of tools to support SRs, which aims to help reviewers find appropriate tools based on their needs. It uses a simple, yet flexible, classification system to classify tools based on how they provide support for the SR process.

Undertaking a SR involves the systematic storage, management, validation and analysis of large quantities of data; activities, which can be error prone and time consuming. Automated tools (i.e. software), therefore, can be used to support many aspects of the SR process.

Although the focus of SR Toolbox is on identifying software to support SRs, other tools or support mechanisms (i.e. checklists, guidelines and reporting standards) can also be found.