Units / MPH5239
MPH5239 · Systematic reviews and meta-analysis
2026 Handbook6 credit pointsLevel 5Department of Epidemiology and Preventive Medicine
Last checked: 23 Aug 2026 UTCOverview
Critical appraisal of literature reviews; problem formulation and protocol development; intra-rater agreement for assessment of relevance; validity assessments; data collection forms; variation between study findings, combining the findings of independent studies, inferences based upon overviews; statistics of meta analysis, Cochrane Collaboration.
Offerings
| Campus | Teaching period | Mode |
|---|---|---|
| Alfred Hospital | Second semester | A combination of on-campus and online teaching in a block period (FLX-BLK) |
Assessment
The Handbook does not list a final examination among the assessment items. That is not a guarantee there is none.
| # | Assessment | Type | Weight | Hurdle |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Written report - Critically appraise a published systematic review | Written | 20% | — |
| 2 | Group written report 1 - A protocol or plan of a systematic review of randomised controlled trials | Written | 20% | — |
| 3 | Group written report 2 - Systematic review of randomised controlled trials | Written | 50% | Threshold |
| 4 | Online participation in Moodle discussions | Written | 10% | — |
Assessment in this unit includes hurdle assessment tasks. Failure of any hurdle assessment task may result in failure of the unit.
Assessment details may change. Please refer to the assessment information in Moodle closer to the start of the teaching period.
Requisites
prohibitions
- MPH6239 — Systematic reviews and meta-analysis
Learning outcomes
- Formulate a structured question for a systematic review of randomised controlled trials, and understand the motivations for doing a systematic review;
- Develop a protocol (or planned methods) for a systematic review;
- Conduct a systematic review in a small group that conforms to accepted standards;
- Clearly report the systematic review;
- Assess the quality of systematic reviews conducted by others, and apply the results to clinical practice.
Workload
12 hours per week comprised of a mix of directed and self-directed learning plus attendance at 3 day block
| Activity | Duration |
|---|---|
| Workshops | — |
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