systematic reviews

Systematic review techniques

One study investigated the quality of effectiveness reviews in health promotion. This topic is included in the EPPI-Centre knowledge library. The Knowledge Pages facility enables users to search for the key messages within specific subject areas to which EPPI-Centre reviews have contributed.

SCIE report 13: systematic searching on the AgeInfo database

This report presents the results of an evaluation of the AgeInfo database, which is an information service provided by the Centre for Policy on Ageing (www.cpa.org.uk) and which is made available to the public at not cost through SCIE's own database Social Care Online (www.scie-socialcareonline.org.uk This report is intended for use by SCIE and the Centre for Policy on Ageing, and may also be useful to users of the AgeInfo database, such as researchers conducting systematic reviews.

SCIE: systematic reviews

The most trustworthy knowledge comes from systematic reviews where a whole body of work on a given topic is examined, using set ways of deciding what is relevant, how the quality of different studies should be judged and how the messages should be brought together. Looking at a whole body of work in this way means that there is less potential for the messages from research to be unduly affected by single studies.

Campbell Collaboration: User Abstract

Provides user abstracts that give practitioners and others easy access to research results. Most user abstracts are based on Campbell reviews, but some are based on other high-quality systematic reviews. The resource presents the findings of the reviews in a plain language, and focuses on information relevant to practitioners and decision makers, for example, people who need the research evidence in order to make the best decisions concerning other peoples welfare. Topics include domestic violence, children, crime, mental health and older people.

EPPI-Centre: evidence library

Provides systematic reviews of research evidence across a range of different topic areas and provides support for others who are undertaking systematic reviews or using research evidence. A large number of systematic reviews in the fields of education including initial teacher education (ITE), health promotion and public health are available.

Systematic mapping guidance report 2 : the recovery approach in community-based vocational and training adult mental health day services (Research resource 3)

Report describing and discussing a systematic map focusing on the role of vocation, meaningful occupation and training in the refashioning of mental health day services. It includes research on how the recovery approach can operate in community-based vocational and training adult mental health services.

N.B. Free report requires registration.

Evidence on effectiveness of behavioural interventions to help parents manage sleep problems in young disabled children: a rapid review

This rapid review was undertaken to examine the effectiveness of behavioural interventions for sleep problems in young disabled children (up to age eight years), specifically interventions that can be carried out by parents in the home. Nineteen studies were identified, four were RCTs and 15 were before and after studies, most of which had less than 10 participants. Three of the four RCTs had been conducted in a UK setting.

The effectiveness of behavioural interventions which involve parents in the management of behaviour problems among disabled children: a rapid review

This review identified research studies on the effectiveness of behavioural interventions for disabled children with behavioural problems. The findings on intervention outcomes are discussed in the broad areas of interventions on behaviour management skills only; interventions on behaviour management skills and the parent-child relationships; interventions on behaviour management and teaching skills; interventions on behaviour management skills and understanding the condition; and an overview of the significant effects for each intervention.