Use of systematic reviews

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This cartoon by Hywel Williams says: Systematic reviews that fail to detect any beneficial effects of treatments – negative reviews – are very important in helping patient to assess their treatments options.

• Format Cartoons
• Language/s English
• Target Audience Further education
• Duration <5 mins

Key Concepts addressed

• 3-3b How certain is the evidence?
• 2-3h Don’t confuse “no evidence” with “no effect”

Details

One Cochrane systematic review found no good evidence to support the use of antistreptococcal interventions (prolonged antibiotics or tonsillectomy) for treating guttate psoriasis. Sometimes such a “negative” systematic review can be useful, in that it can empower patients to question doctors on the evidential basis for their treatment decisions.

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