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Item Open Access Evidence Synthesis through “Umbrella Review”: A Procedural Framework of “Systematic Review of Reviews”(National Heart Foundation Hospital & Research Institute, Bangladesh, 2023-05-15) Turin, Tanvir C; Raihan, Mohammad M H; Chowdhury, NAn Umbrella Review, also known as an overview or systematic review of reviews, is a type of literature review that focuses on synthesizing evidence from multiple systematic reviews and meta-analyses on a specific topic. Instead of examining individual studies, an Umbrella Review analyzes and summarizes findings from existing systematic reviews and meta- analyses, providing a higher-level overview of the available evidence. Umbrella reviews help researchers synthesise all the evidence available on a particular topic into a single, comprehensive research. This paper provides a comprehensive, step-by-step methodology with examples from existing literature and concise explanations for doing Umbrella Reviews. It is intended for those who are new to the field, including investigators and students. Umbrella Reviews are particularly useful when a large body of evidence exists, and there is a need to synthesize and make sense of the findings from multiple systematic reviews. They play a crucial role in evidence-based practice, informing decision-making and guiding future research efforts.Item Open Access Exploring all that is Grey in the Health Sciences: What is Grey Literature and How to use it for Comprehensive Knowledge Synthesis(National Heart Foundation Hospital & Research Institute, Bangladesh, 2019-01-15) Turin, Tanvir C; Vaska, Marcus; Chowdhury, Mohammad Z I; Naidu, Jessica; Baig, KhuludGrey literature is defined as “a field in library and information science that deals with the production, distribution, and access to multiple document types produced on all levels of government, academics, business, and organization in electronic and print formats not controlled by commercial publishing, i.e. where publishing is not the primary activity of the producing body” [GreyNet International, 2016]. This paper will provide an overview of grey literature, along with definitions, examples of sources, and suggestions on how to search for this material. In addition, it will describe how best to document grey literature search strategies, as well as evaluate and critically appraise sources of information located in the grey literature realm. Finally, it will outline why the inclusion of grey literature in systematic literature reviews is important in order to reduce publication bias, provide a balanced picture of the available evidence, and increase the comprehensiveness of the review.Item Open Access Comprehensive Systematic Search Process of Health Literature: Hunting Pearls out of the Sea(National Heart Foundation Hospital & Research Institute, Bangladesh, 2016-01-15) Tanvir, C Turin; Ahmed, Salim; Vaska, MarcusBackground: Clinical information is expanding at an accelerated rate all over the world, encompassing scholarly articles, books, practice guidelines and grey literature. In knowledge synthesis practices systematic reviews are seen as the gold standard and in the heart of this methodology is a “systematic search”. Methods: This paper focuses on describing the “systematic search” process, which is different than a general-purpose search in conventional search engines. Our previously published paper was used as the example while describing the search process health care researchers might follow. Results: Almost every systematic search and screening reported in peer-reviewed scientific journals involves the following major steps: Generate appropriate and comprehensive sets of search words, find appropriate databases for the search, search in databases with a combination of search words, export search results into reference management software, and screening of literature. Conclusion: In this paper, we tried to focus on the systematic searching and literature screening for knowledge synthesis focusing on medical or health research. All of the methodological steps described here are part of standard practice for synthesis among scientific communities, while also based on the experiences of the authors in conducting review studies.Item Open Access Conducting Comprehensive Scoping Reviews to Systematically Capture the Landscape of a Subject Matter(Population Medicine, 2021-12-15) Turin, Tanvir C; Kazi, Mashrur; Chowdhury, Nashit A; Chowdhury, Mohammad Z IScientific publications or health research publications have seen a dramatic increase during the last few decades. Given this rapid production of information, literature reviews have become an imperative cornerstone for researchers to gain a better understanding of the research landscape that they are investigating. One type of literature review that has shown great utility is the scoping review, with its great efficiency in mapping existing literature and synthesizing knowledge. A step-by-step guide is provided in this article as an introduction to those who are interested in conducting scoping reviews in order to acquire a better picture of the research landscape. To help better understand the intricacies to conducting a scoping review, each step of the process is clearly explained and elaborated on. Each step is also followed by examples from published literature. The intended audience includes students and researchers new to scoping reviewsItem Open Access The Spectrum of Knowledge Synthesis Methods: From Big Picture Overview to Targeted Deep Dive(Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University, 2024-10-21) Turin, Tanvir C; Chowdhury, NashitThe process of incorporating and placing previously published research findings into a cohesive understanding of a certain subject is known as knowledge synthesis. A comprehensive and systematic search and rigorous screening process of papers or documents to identify the final set to analyze is a cornerstone of a high quality knowledge synthesis. The synthesis depth varies from obtaining broad overviews to in-depth analyses based on research needs and objectives. Researchers should be skilled in knowledge synthesis methods because these skills are essential for producing high-quality, impactful research and knowledge translation. Command of these methods enables researchers to critically evaluate and integrate findings from diverse studies, enhancing the robustness and credibility of their conclusions. Furthermore, proficiency in knowledge synthesis is crucial for identifying gaps in the literature, which can inform the design of future studies and contribute to the advancement of the field. In addition, researchers with strong synthesis skills are better equipped to communicate their findings to a broader audience, including policymakers and practitioners, thereby increasing the societal impact of their work.Item Open Access Conducting a Literature Review in Health Research: Basics of the Approach, Typology and Methodology(National Heart Foundation Hospital & Research Institute, Bangladesh, 2016-07-15) Tanvir, C Turin; Ahmed, Salim; Vaska, MarcusBackground: Literature reviews play a significant role in healthcare practice. There are different types of reviews available depending on the nature of the research question and the extent of reviewing that is conducted. In this article, we have summarized the major types of literature reviews, their strength and weakness, and provide representative examples. Methods: We have examined the different types of common reviews that have been used in the health research literature. We collected the information on these review types and have summarized them with providing corresponding examples. Results: We have discussed the major types of reviews: literature review, critical review, scoping review, systematic review, meta-analysis, qualitative systematic review, realist review, and review of reviews. We have mentioned the usability, strengths and weaknesses, utilizing the Search, Appraisal, Synthesis, Analysis (SALSA) framework, and have provided corresponding examples for each of these types of reviews in different tables. Conclusion: This article is a summary of different types of reviews and their implication in practice. This paper is thus intended for beginners who want to know about literature reviews.