ScHARR ONLINE COURSE - Scoping Reviews, Mapping Reviews and Evidence Gap Maps (NEW)

Demand for evidence synthesis to inform practice, policy and research agendas has grown exponentially over the last three decades. In response, systematic review methods have evolved to meet the increasingly diverse types of questions that systematic review methods are being used to address.

An evidence synthesis approach that has emerged and is increasingly being used are mapping review and evidence gap maps (EGMs). These are new tools, which complement existing approaches in the family of systematic methods of reviewing evidence. Typically, they seek to address a broader research question, where multiple types of intervention may be evaluated, such as preterm birth, epilepsy or intimate partner violence.

EGMs provide a visual overview of existing evidence, schematically representing the types of interventions evaluated and outcomes reported. EGMs also provide a useful tool for informing judgement and evidence-based decision-making in policy and practice by identifying ‘gaps’ where there is little or no evidence available and where future research should focus.

While mapping reviews and EGMs have developed and been used to support policymaking in international development, they have a broader applicability, which has seen them used more widely, with clear applicability to the health sector.

What does the course deliver?

This 1-day short course provides an introduction to mapping reviews and EGMs, outlines the gap-map methodology, and presents some examples.

Objectives

The purpose of this one-day short course is to introduce attendees to mapping reviews and EGMs, how they differ from other systematic reviews, examples of how they are used, methods, and how to produce an EGM.

Course content

The course will consist of a mixture of presentations and an interactive exercise, with an opportunity for participants to work on developing the framework for an EGM.

Faculty

Fiona Campbell is the course leader for this exciting 1-day short course.

Anthea Sutton

Dr Melanie Bond

For more information and to book your place, please visit this page.

ScHARR Mini Master Class in Health Research #10 - The Factors associated with Student Mental Health - Reviewing the Evidence - Fiona Campbell and Elena Sheldon - 22nd April - 1-2pm (UK Time)

Join us online for a monthly online masterclass by one of our health research experts based in The School of Health and Related Research

The Factors associated with Student Mental Health - Reviewing the Evidence

Book your FREE place here

https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/the-factors-associated-with-student-mental-health-reviewing-the-evidence-tickets-137807198039

Abstract

Poor mental health of further and higher education students is a growing public policy concern. A 2020 Insight Network survey of students from 10 universities suggests that “1 in 5 students have a current mental health diagnosis” and that “almost half have experienced a serious psychological issue for which they felt they needed professional help” - an increase from 1 in 3 in the same survey conducted in 2018. The global coronavirus pandemic and measures to contain it has led to a worsening of the levels of poor mental health among young people including students in higher education. In order to develop high quality interventions that seek to improve the mental health of young people in higher education it is necessary to have a good understanding of the factors that contribute to poor mental health and also those that strengthen mental wellbeing.

Elena and Fiona have both led reviews in the past year that have looked at these factors. In this session, they will describe the different approaches they used to look at this problem and some of the methodological challenges that arose as a result. These include the challenges of measuring mental health outcomes, and synthesising different study designs to identify causal factors.

Despite using different approaches both reviews found consistent messages about the factors that increase the risk of poor mental health occurring in student populations, the factors that are protective of mental wellbeing and interventions that merit further development and evaluation. They look forward to describing their results in more depth, and highlighting areas where further research is needed.

Bios

Fiona Campbell

Fiona Campbell is a Research Fellow in Health Economics and Decision Science within the School for Health and Related Research (ScHARR) at the University of Sheffield. She has a clinical nursing background in oncology nursing, district nursing and health visiting and has worked in this capacity both in the UK and developing country settings. These experiences led to a keen interest in the use of research to inform and improve health care and public health. She trained in systematic review methodology and has conducted and published reviews for NICE, HTA and the Cochrane Collaboration. Her work has been used to inform NICE guidance for treatments for hypertension, obesity, excessive alcohol use, hospital errors and approaches to increasing levels of physical activity. She has designed, led and published work on methodological aspects of systematic reviewing and teaches systematic review methodology to postgraduate students.

https://www.sheffield.ac.uk/scharr/people/staff/fiona-campbell

https://twitter.com/fionabell19

Elena Sheldon

Elena joined the ScHARR Clinical Trials Research Unit in 2019 as a Research Assistant, having previously completed a BSc degree in Psychology at the University of Durham.

Elena is currently working on the MAGIC and ASTIClite studies. Prior to this, she worked as a Paediatric Research Assistant in the Clinical Research Facility at Sheffield Children’s Hospital and has worked as a Research Assistant in the Psychology Department at the University of Durham. In this role Elena examined 4D ultrasound scans of foetuses at various gestation, focusing on self-touch and facial expressions in relation to prenatal depression, stress and anxiety.

https://www.sheffield.ac.uk/scharr/people/staff/elena-m-sheldon

https://www.linkedin.com/in/elena-sheldon-9450a1126/?originalSubdomain=uk

Short Course - Mixed-method ApproacheS To Evidence Reviews In Europe (MASTERIE) - 2 day Course: Tuesday, 30th June - Wednesday, 1st July

Short Course - Mixed-method ApproacheS To Evidence Reviews In Europe (MASTERIE) - 2 day Course: Tuesday, 30th June - Wednesday, 1st July

Halifax Hall

Background

With increasing interest in complex social and public health interventions, attention within the systematic review community is shifting beyond “what works” to exploring “what works for whom under what circumstances”. Such questions require the integration of both qualitative and quantitative data within research projects and PhD theses. Integration can be achieved at several points in the systematic review process; for example, through the methodology itself (e.g. realist syntheses and critical interpretive syntheses), through inclusion of mixed methods studies, and through integrating separate reviews. Integration can take place when focusing the questions, when conducting searching and quality assessment and, above all, in the synthesis and presentation of findings. This course will examine practical examples of integration at all these levels and stages. The Programme Faculty will begin by taking participants through the mixed method review process (Day One) before examining specific methods and mechanisms for integrating quantitative and qualitative data (Day Two). The emphasis will be on opening up a toolbox of possible approaches rather than focusing on a single, popularised method. The course leader, Dr Andrew Booth, has recently contributed to Cochrane and WHO guidance on mixed methods reviews and synthesis while Fiona Campbell has wide-ranging experience across methods and paradigms.

Who will benefit from this course?

No formal experience is required, working knowledge of standard systematic review methods and/or quantitative or qualitative synthesis methods will be an advantage but not essential.

• Quantitative or Qualitative Researchers who want to learn how to synthesise qualitative research
• Systematic Reviewers who want to learn how to integrate quantitative and qualitative data
• PhD Students in topic areas that explore complex social or health interventions
• New researchers who want an overview of evidence synthesis/systematic review alternatives and choices
• Quantitative and Qualitative systematic reviewers who want to update and extend their skills and knowledge

Learning outcomes

By the end of this programme participants will be able to:

• Describe the main approaches to integrating quantitative and qualitative data within evidence synthesis in terms of their strengths and weaknesses
• Rehearse the stages of the systematic review process at which integration might occur
• Articulate different mechanisms by which quantitative and qualitative data might be synthesised
• Describe the requirements for presenting and disseminating mixed method synthesis data

Course Materials

Course Materials will be provided via a Delegate Course Website approximately  week prior to the course start date. Hard copies of exercises will be provided throughout the course as necessary. Hard copies of PowerPoint presentations will not be provided, but these can be printed by delegates before the start of the course via the Delegate Course Website.

The course will consist of a mixture of presentations, group work, discussions and individual exercises.

Participants are asked to provide their own laptop for the duration of the course.

Course Faculty

Members of the Cochrane Qualitative Research Methods Group and Experienced ScHARR Staff.

Dr Andrew Booth, Reader in Evidence Based Information Practice, ScHARR, University of Sheffield and Course Leader of this and our ESQUIRE short course.

Fiona Campbell, Research Fellow, ScHARR, University of Sheffield.

Dates

2 day course: Tuesday, 30th June - Wednesday, 1st July 2020

Times

Day 1 - Starts at 9:30am with Registration and refreshments, with a prompt course start at 10:00am.  It is scheduled to close for the day at approximately 5pm.  A course evening dinner for all delegates and staff will take place at approximately 7pm (there is no additional fee for this).

Day 2 - Starts at 9am and is scheduled to close for the day at 4pm.

Fees

£575.00 - Early Bird Rate for bookings received on or before 11pm on Thursday, 30th April 2020.

£675.00 - Standard Rate for bookings received on or before 11pm on Tuesday, 16th June 2020.

Bookings will automatically close 11pm on Tuesday, 16th June 2020.

Booking and Payment

This course is now live on our Online Store, and we are currently taking bookings.

All of our short course bookings are initially processed through our Online Store. Payment in full is required at the time of placing your booking (Credit/Debit Card or PayPal is accepted) or via Invoice (purchase order required). 

If your employer is paying your fees and they would prefer to be invoiced, please ensure you select the Invoice Option and have your Purchase Order details, before making your booking. Bookings are NOT confirmed until receipt of the Purchase Order is received at scharr-scu@sheffield.ac.uk.

If you have any queries relating to fees and payment, please do not hesitate to contact us.

Accommodation and Meals

The course fee includes lunch and refreshments throughout this 2 day course, plus a Course Evening Dinner that takes place on the first evening. 

No accommodation is included.  We have a preferential rate of £70 per room/night at the host venue Halifax Hall for all of our delegates, details of how to book this are provided in your automated confirmation email. 

Alternatively, we have our new Jonas Hotel, situated next to Halifax Hall, with a preferential rate of £50 per room/night.  For further details please contact Karen Holden at scharr-scu@sheffield.ac.uk or telephone +44 (0)114 222 2968.

If you have any particular dietary or access requirements then please contact the Short Course Unit with your requirements at the time of booking.

Venue

Halifax Hall Hotel and Conference Centre,

Endcliffe Vale Road,

Sheffield,

S10 3ER.