Challenges in teaching systematic reviews to non-clinicians

Area of Science:

• Education
• Evidence-Based Practice
• Research Methodology

Background:

• Systematic reviews are crucial for evidence-based decision-making across disciplines.
• Effective teaching of systematic review methods is underdeveloped and underexplored.
• This paper addresses the need for structured training in systematic review techniques.

Purpose of the Study:

• To outline a teaching approach for systematic reviews tailored to non-clinicians at the University of Cologne.
• To identify and discuss challenges encountered in teaching systematic review methodology.
• To stimulate discourse on improving systematic review education.

Main Methods:

• A 12-week course (1.5 hours/week) was developed, featuring 9 weeks of hands-on exercises.
• The curriculum covered the entire systematic review process, from question formulation to meta-analysis.
• Instruction was based on the Cochrane Handbook for Systematic Reviews of Interventions, using a well-conducted review as a case study.

Main Results:

• Four key challenge areas were identified to enhance learning success.
• Challenges included selecting appropriate assignment topics and guiding reviews.
• Lecturer requirements and integrating methodological advancements were also noted challenges.

Conclusions:

• The developed course provides a practical framework for teaching systematic review skills to diverse learners.
• Addressing identified challenges is essential for optimizing the educational experience and outcomes.
• Further discussion and refinement of systematic review teaching methods are encouraged.