Advanced Methods I: Evidence Synthesis Methods, Living Methods, and Applied Examples in Healthcare Research

‎1. Course Aim ‎
To present evidence synthesis as an important method in pharmacoepidemiology that may bring together all ‎relevant information for a research question and to describe the sub-topic of “living” evidence synthesis for ‎which training is rarely provided to pharmacoepidemiologists. Living evidence synthesis methods provides an ‎innovative and scalable solution to the resounding imperative for robust evidence in real time. The approach ‎combines rigor with rapidity as living review methodology continuously identifies, critically appraises, and ‎incorporates data as it becomes available to produce up to date and robust evidence to facilitate decision ‎making process. The concept of living evidence synthesis and related outputs, such as living guidelines and ‎recommendations, are of value to health stakeholders (researchers, decision makers, funders, publishers, and ‎evidence users) who are interested in evidence ecosystems that seamlessly and sustainably connect evidence ‎generation with implementation.‎

The objectives of this pre-conference advanced course are to present an overview of evidence synthesis and ‎the importance for pharmacoepidemiology, to describe the ‘why and when needed’ and ‘how to apply’ living ‎evidence synthesis methods including discussion of practical examples, and finally, to explore and discuss next ‎steps for the future.‎

‎2. Requisites Statement ‎
a) From entry level ‎
b) No pre-course materials need to be accessed or reviewed

‎3. Course Objectives
‎1.‎ Deliver an overview of evidence synthesis methodologies and the importance for ‎pharmacoepidemiology
‎2.‎ Outline living evidence synthesis methods and describe a real-world, applied example.‎
‎3.‎ Discuss the future of evidence synthesis, particularly applications of living methods in healthcare ‎industry research.‎

‎4. Syllabus Outline‎
Session 1: A brief overview of evidence synthesis
Will cover the basics of evidence synthesis objectives, various types, and methodological differences. The ‎importance for pharmacoepidemiology and key limitations will be highlighted.‎
‎ ‎
Session 2: Living Evidence Methods
Will outline the methodology of living evidence reviews, including why and how. Key methodological ‎considerations such as types of topics suited to a living review, update frequency for searching and screening ‎new evidence, when and how to include this newly identified evidence, methods for study quality evaluation ‎and analytical methods for synthesis will be presented.‎
Session 2.1: Applied living evidence methods
To further illustrate the key methodological considerations discussed above, the following practical example ‎will be discussed:‎
• The COVID-NMA initiative: A living mapping and living systematic review of Covid-19 trials‎

Session 3: The future of living evidence synthesis
Will consider the future of living evidence synthesis methods, how attendees might apply evidence synthesis ‎to their own pharmacoepidemiology research settings (examples of current use case scenarios – signal safety ‎and efficacy detection, OMICS detection), as well as limitations and gaps for improvement. ‎

Session 4: Panel Discussion
This pre-conference advanced course will end with questions from the audience, and a panel discussion.‎