Scientists who learn systematic review methods will not only improve the quality of their published reviews, but also the reporting of basic science, and the rigor of peer-review.Systematic review is an approach to answering research questions by systematically selecting, evaluating, and integrating scientific evidence. TEDX helped develop the first Code of Practice in conducting systematic reviews in environmental health and toxicology.
In conducting our reviews, we used systematic review methods developed by the US National Toxicology Program specifically for environmental health questions. We used state-of-the-art software and statistical tools to identify, interpret, summarize, and present the scientific evidence on the relationship between chemical exposures and endocrine-related health outcomes.
Partnering with non-profit, government, and academic scientists helped us identify pressing questions and conduct rigorous reviews. We conducted two types of assessments: systematic reviews and scoping reviews.
Systematic review is a method of aggregating research studies to try to definitively answer whether a particular chemical causes a health outcome. The strength of the evidence is rated based on the potential for bias, the relevance to human health, and other key factors. Only the highest quality evidence, in humans and animals, is integrated to arrive at a conclusion about the hazard to human health.
Scoping reviews are used to select and define research questions for systematic review, to identify specific research needs, and direct research funding.Scoping reviews assess the breadth of research on a particular topic, often including several chemicals or endpoints. Although they use systematic review methods, scoping reviews do not evaluate the research methods or results of individual studies, or aggregate the research to draw conclusions about health hazards. Scoping reviews are used to select and define research questions for systematic review, to identify specific research needs, and direct research funding.
