How to use GRADE to assess, interpret and present findings of a review

Article type
Authors
Santesso N1, Langendam M2, Brozek J3, Brignardello-Petersen R4, Schünemann H3
1Cochrane Applicability and Recommendations Methods Group, McMaster University
2Academic Medical Center - University of Amsterdam
3McMaster University
4Institute of Health Policy, Management and Evaluation, University of Toronto
Abstract
Objectives: To learn to use GRADE (Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation) to assess the evidence, and interpret and present findings.
Description: The GRADE criteria have been adopted by Cochrane to evaluate the quality of evidence for outcomes reported in systematic reviews, to interpret findings and to draw conclusions. This information as well as the result for each outcome, is presented in the text of the review and can be presented in a 'Summary of findings' (SoF) table. This workshop briefly describes the GRADE criteria to assess the quality of evidence (risk of bias, indirectness, imprecision, inconsistency, publication and others) and the process to create a SoF table (choosing outcomes and comparisons; grading the evidence; and presenting effects in user friendly numbers). Then, in small groups, participants will apply these concepts to write results, create a SoF table and write footnotes. The small groups will be led by experts in GRADE and SoF tables.