gms | German Medical Science

Background and Purpose: Evidence syntheses in nursing aim to identify and summarise the available evidence on a specific research question or topic with various aims as e.g. informing clinical nursing practice or developing policies. Originally developed for treatment questions, the scope and methodology of evidence syntheses has evolved in recent years to include qualitative, mixed-methods, diagnostic and prognostic approaches for example. In parallel, novel methods for accelerating the development process of evidence syntheses were proposed, strongly based on methodological recommendations from e.g. the Campbell and the Cochrane Collaboration and the Joanna-Briggs-Institute. Other innovations cover the development and testing of tools aimed at supporting authors in the process of evidence synthesis and presentation of results. Currently, there is an overwhelming number of terms and methods in the field of evidence synthesis and it becomes increasingly difficult to distinguish between them. The aim of this symposium is to present current approaches for evidence synthesis and presentation, discuss opportunities and limitations, and give examples for practical use.

Methods: We will present an overview of new approaches for evidence syntheses and presentation, i.e. “living systematic reviews”, “evidence (gap) maps”, and current methodological recommendations for developing methods like “overviews of reviews”. Also, we will address tools as e.g. GRADE, MAGICapp, Covidence, or robot reviewer aimed at supporting the development process of evidence syntheses and subsequent products including guidelines and decision aids. Presentations will include practical examples of ongoing or recently completed work and discussions about new opportunities and challenges of the different methods and tools.

Methodological Focus: This symposium addresses the state of the art in evidence-synthesis methodology.

Results: We will present new approaches and innovative tools in the field of evidence-syntheses and discuss opportunities and challenges in their practical use.

Conclusions: Evidence syntheses have an important role in nursing science and practice. In recent years evidence synthesis methodology has rapidly evolved to meet the challenges in research and requirements of clinicians and stakeholder accounting for the need for up-to-date research syntheses and evidence-based guidelines. This symposium will help researchers and clinicians by presenting an overview of new approaches to further improve the development and application of evidence syntheses.

Programme Overview:

1.

Introduction: Development of evidence syntheses in recent years (R. Möhler)

2.

Innovations in conducting and presenting systematic reviews – an overview (S. Köpke & R. Möhler)

3.

Making sense of the volume and quality of the evidence using GRADE and Summary of Findings Tables (N. Cullum)

4.

Evidence (gap) map – a useful tool for researcher and policy makers? (J. Hirt)

5.

Advancement of evidence-based guideline methodology in Germany – on the road to S4? (Anke Steckelberg)

6.

Discussion: Challenges and opportunities in evidence syntheses (S. Köpke)