Article type
Abstract
Background: Overviews are an increasingly popular form of evidence synthesis, aiming to summarize the evidence and to signpost readers to relevant sources to support decision-making. They can investigate different interventions for the same condition or the same intervention focusing on different outcomes, with high relevance where clinical choices are made between different treatments, such as in a rehabilitation context. The GRADE approach posits that there are 2 important components of a result of a review: the effect of the intervention, presented as the risk or difference in effect, and the certainty of the evidence for that effect. Both components should be conveyed to avoid misleading the reader. Therefore, we adapted the evidence-mapping methodology to synthesize the results inside overviews of Cochrane Systematic Reviews (CSRs), called “mapping synthesis,” conveying both the effect of the intervention and the certainty of evidence.
Objectives. To describe the methodology for developing a mapping synthesis as an evidence implementation tool for clinicians
Methods. In collaboration with the World Health Organization (WHO) for the Package of Interventions for Rehabilitation, we performed an overview of CSRs addressing different rehabilitation interventions for the same condition, searching all CSRs available for that health condition in the Cochrane Library from inception up to date. Then, we adapted the evidence mapping methodology to synthesize the results of the CSRs included, presenting the effect estimation of the interventions and the certainty of evidence for that effect in all CSRs included in the overviews.
Results. We used a color-based “mapping-synthesis” table to present the findings, as shown in Figure 1 as an example.
Conclusions. Mapping synthesis provides a comprehensive summary of the extent and distribution of the evidence in a broad clinical area, allowing a snapshot of where evidence exists. This approach offers clinicians a simple, immediate, and readable synthesis of the results.
Relevance for patients. The use of a mapping synthesis as a summary of evidence in overviews will improve the readability of the findings and facilitate the involvement of the patients in the clinical decision-making process.
No public and/or consumer involvement
Objectives. To describe the methodology for developing a mapping synthesis as an evidence implementation tool for clinicians
Methods. In collaboration with the World Health Organization (WHO) for the Package of Interventions for Rehabilitation, we performed an overview of CSRs addressing different rehabilitation interventions for the same condition, searching all CSRs available for that health condition in the Cochrane Library from inception up to date. Then, we adapted the evidence mapping methodology to synthesize the results of the CSRs included, presenting the effect estimation of the interventions and the certainty of evidence for that effect in all CSRs included in the overviews.
Results. We used a color-based “mapping-synthesis” table to present the findings, as shown in Figure 1 as an example.
Conclusions. Mapping synthesis provides a comprehensive summary of the extent and distribution of the evidence in a broad clinical area, allowing a snapshot of where evidence exists. This approach offers clinicians a simple, immediate, and readable synthesis of the results.
Relevance for patients. The use of a mapping synthesis as a summary of evidence in overviews will improve the readability of the findings and facilitate the involvement of the patients in the clinical decision-making process.
No public and/or consumer involvement