The Indus Hospital & Health Network conducted a specialized workshop titled “Mastering Systematic Reviews & Meta-Analyses”, aimed at strengthening the research capacity of health professionals and students. The workshop focused on developing practical, hands-on skills required to design, conduct, and publish high-quality systematic reviews and meta-analyses in line with international standards.

The sessions covered key components of the systematic review process, including protocol development, comprehensive literature search strategies, PRISMA-compliant study selection, risk-of-bias assessment, and manuscript preparation. Participants engaged in interactive, applied learning to enhance their understanding of reproducible research methodologies.

Learning Objectives

Develop and register systematic review protocols aligned with PRISMA standards

Conduct reproducible literature searches across PubMed, Cochrane, and Embase

Apply PRISMA guidelines for study selection, screening, and documentation

Assess study quality using RoB 2, ROBINS-I, and Newcastle–Ottawa Scale (NOS) tools

Prepare publication-ready manuscripts in accordance with journal requirements

Key Outcomes

By the end of the workshop, participants demonstrated:

The ability to independently initiate and manage systematic reviews

Improved skills in screening, data extraction, and critical appraisal

Competence in producing PRISMA-compliant documentation and flow diagrams

A foundational understanding of meta-analysis outputs and interpretation

Enhanced capacity to publish high-quality systematic reviews in peer-reviewed journals

Resource Persons

The workshop was facilitated by experienced public health and research professionals:

Syeda Tabeena Ali, Public Health Specialist & Biostatistician, Indus Hospital & Health Network

Fatima Nazir, Public Health Nutritionist & Research Associate, Aga Khan University

Dr. Sameera Ali Rizvi, Epidemiologist & Senior Manager, Indus Hospital & Health Network

Participation

A total of 12 participants attended the workshop, ensuring focused engagement and personalized learning.

This initiative reflects Indus Hospital & Health Network’s continued commitment to strengthening research excellence and evidence-based practice within the healthcare community.