Grant: Project Grant

Systematic reviews have been widely used and relied upon in healthcare. They have been used to inform both national and global health policies. This is due to the evidence-based, concrete, and exhaustive results they yield on a specific topic. The National Academy of Medicine (NAM) has previously specified that a better understanding of the performance of diagnostic tests is vital to patient safety. With the national and international need for patient safety and great reliance on systematic reviews to inform decision-making and policy, the findings of primary studies used in systematic reviews need to be critically appraised. Various tools exist for various study designs. However, to the best of our knowledge, there is no authenticated and comprehensive critical appraisal tool that assesses reviews including diagnostic studies. The main goal of this project is therefore to develop a validated measurement tool that critically appraises these reviews. It will be referred to as AMSTAR-DTA as a continuation of previously developed AMSTAR and AMSTAR 2 which have become some of the most widely used tools in healthcare research for reviews that include randomized and non-randomized studies. The development of AMSTAR-DTA will include reviewing the literature, working with experts, identifying potential core domains and attaching items to these domains. The instrument will then undergo vigorous testing to ensure face and content validity. Knowledge translation using user manuals and training will ensue. Research has shown that intervention results on health risks, disease prevalence and health service needs are determined by sex and/or gender. We will therefore incorporate these two concepts in our design and dissemination activities for improved evidence quality. Ensuring that all stakeholders are included and actively involved in all stages of development and dissemination allows for long-term national and international use of AMSTAR-DTA.