Developing GRADE guidance for overviews of systematic reviews

Article type
Authors
Brennan S1, McKenzie J2, Middleton P3, Akl E4, Green S1, Reid J1, Lunny C1
1Cochrane Australia
2Monash University
3Cochrane Pregnancy and Childbirth
4American University of Beirut
Abstract
Target audience:
Researchers, policy makers and guideline developers with methodological expertise in overviews of reviews, GRADE methodology (or other systems for rating the quality of evidence), or guideline development. Those with methodological expertise in overviews of reviews, GRADE methodology (or other systems for rating the quality of evidence), or guideline development.

Description:
GRADE methods underpin some of the most important health policy decisions worldwide, providing a transparent system for rating the quality of evidence in systematic reviews. Despite the emergence of overviews (of systematic reviews) as a rapid synthesis method for evidence‐informed decision making, there is no GRADE guidance for rating the quality of evidence in an overview.

This workshop forms Stage two of a project aiming to inform GRADE guidance for overviews. Stage one involved identifying approaches for assessing the quality of the evidence in an overview, through interviews with methodological experts and a systematic review of current practice. The final stage will involve surveying a panel of methodologists in order to refine and rate the importance of the domains and criteria identified in the first two stages.

At the workshop we will:

Present findings from stages one and two for applying GRADE in overviews.Conduct small group work in which participants will be presented with scenarios intended to stimulate thinking about the complexities involved in applying GRADE in overviews.Facilitate small group discussion in which participants will be encouraged to critique proposed approaches for applying GRADE in overviews.Conclude with a round‐up of proposals for applying GRADE in overviews.