Best Practices for the Conduct of Scoping Reviews

*If your type of ticket is sold out, please join the waitlist or contact us at esi@nuigalway.ie

Date: 11th May 2023

Time: 10.00 am - 12.00 pm

Places: 25. This training event is only open to individuals who are resident on the Island of Ireland.

Background

Estimates for the generation of research evidence suggest that there is an increasing number of trials and systematic reviews published daily. Knowledge syntheses are essential to advance practice and research through consolidation of evidence. Such reviews can also help knowledge users work more efficiently to make evidence-based decisions. Among the various types of knowledge synthesis, the scoping review has become increasingly popular. Scoping reviews are a form of knowledge synthesis that incorporate a range of study designs to comprehensively summarize and synthesize evidence with the aim of informing practice, programs and policy and providing direction to future research priorities. As a method of knowledge synthesis, scoping reviews have potential to advance health care practice, policy and research. However, variability on the methodological conduct and reporting of scoping reviews prevents scoping reviews from fully reaching this potential. In this course, we will focus on best practices for the conduct of scoping reviews.

Aim

Advance introductory knowledge on the conduct of scoping reviews

Learning outcomes

In this course participants will be enabled to:

• Understand steps and best practices for the conduct of scoping reviews
• Distinguish between scoping reviews and other forms of knowledge syntheses
• Understand methods resources for scoping reviews
• Develop methodological skills in the conduct of scoping reviews
• Recognize scoping reviews of varying quality/critique a scoping review

Teaching strategies

The workshop will consist of a mixture of short presentations, small group work and large group discussions.

Facilitators

Dr Heather Colquhoun, Associate Professor, Department of Occupational Science and Occupational Therapy, University of Toronto.

Dr Andrea Tricco, Della Lana School of Public Health and Institute of Health Policy, Management, and Evaluation, University of Toronto

Course content

10:00am: Introduction to Scoping Reviews

10:10am: Methods Overview:

• Best practices for the conduct of scoping reviews including common methodological limitations
• Developing/emerging methods
• Review of the ‘build your protocol’ worksheet

10:50am: Break

11:00am: Small group task:

• Find two scoping reviews on any topic (high quality & low quality)
• Use methodological checklist to make decisions about quality
• Guide presentation of group work to the larger group

11:30am: Small group presentations of scoping reviews, discussion

11:50am: Wrap up, discussion, questions