EROS: web-based software for the initial phases of a systematic review

Article type
Authors
Glujovsky D1, Ciapponi A2
1Institute for Clinical Effectiveness and Health Policy, Argentina
2Argentine Cochrane Centre IECS (Institute for Clinical Effectiveness and Health Policy), Argentina
Abstract
Objectives:

To introduce the initial phases of a systematic review (SR) through the Early Review Organizing Software (EROS).

Description:

Study selection, quality assessment and data extraction are not only time-consuming, but also complicated, tiresome, and prone to mistakes, especially if we have to deal with a great number references retrieved from the search strategy. The available options to cope with these tasks are not very accessible or affordable to many groups, especially teams from developing countries. Participants will work online on a review project. As project managers they will generate a project, define inclusion/exclusion criteria, import citations from reference manager software or electronic databases, and allocate citations and full-text papers to authors. As authors, they will apply exclusion criteria, assess risk of bias and resolve discrepancies. Real-time tracking includes the automatic creation of a study flowchart. Please note that computers will not be provided in this workshop. Participants are encouraged to bring their own laptops, and wifi internet access will be available. Those without laptops will be able to watch the demonstration. EROS was developed by an Argentinean academic institution: Institute for Clinical Effectiveness and Health Policy (Instituto de Efectividad Clinica y Sanitaria, ICES).