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Table 6 Comparison of steps 1–5: major challenges and solutions in case studies A and B

From: Use of existing systematic reviews for evidence assessments in infectious disease prevention: a comparative case study

Step number

Description

Case study A: neurological sequelae of neonatal sepsis

Case study B: influenza vaccination during pregnancy

Challenges

Solutions

Challenges

Solutions

1

Locate existing systematic reviews

Need to restrict search results to SRs

Use of search filters

Relevant SRs can be part of overarching SRs

Widening of the search strategy to more unspecific topics (e.g., “healthy adults”)

2

Assess relevance of the existing reviews

Non-retrievable references in relevant SR

Reporting of this finding in the new SR

PICO alone not sufficient to assess relevance

Construction of additional spreadsheets comparing characteristics of SRs and included individual studies

3

Assess quality of existing reviews

Value of AMSTAR summary score not known

AMSTAR summary score of 7/11 reported and judged as “acceptable”

Value of AMSTAR summary score not known

AMSTAR summary scores of 9/11–11/11 reported and judged as “appropriate”

4

Determine appropriate use and incorporate existing reviews

Numbers and risk of bias not reported in SR

New data extraction from individual studies and risk of bias assessment

Different risk of bias tools used in the relevant SRs

New risk of bias assessment with a defined tool

5

Report methods and results from using existing reviews

Aggregated data and quantitative synthesis from SR not appropriate

Summary of data from the individual studies and conduct of new meta-analysis

Heterogeneity of study characteristics and results

Narrative data summary, results of individual studies in tables, no meta-analysis

  1. SR systematic review