In a systematic review, what follows screening to enable data synthesis?

In a systematic review, what follows screening to enable data synthesis?

• A. Data extraction from included studies.
• B. Assess risk of bias in included studies.
• C. Synthesize findings.
• D. Draft the final report.

Answer: (A)

The essential step right after screening is extracting the data from each included study. This involves pulling out standardized information such as study design, participant characteristics, interventions, outcomes, time points, and the actual results (effect estimates and their precision). Having a consistent, organized dataset is what makes comparison and combination of findings possible, whether you’re conducting a qualitative synthesis or a meta-analysis. Without extracting these details, there’s nothing comparable to synthesize. Risk of bias assessment is important for judging study quality and will inform interpretation, but it doesn’t provide the numerical data or summaries needed to combine results. Synthesis then uses the extracted data to present overall findings, and drafting the final report comes later as the culmination of the process.

The essential step right after screening is extracting the data from each included study. This involves pulling out standardized information such as study design, participant characteristics, interventions, outcomes, time points, and the actual results (effect estimates and their precision). Having a consistent, organized dataset is what makes comparison and combination of findings possible, whether you’re conducting a qualitative synthesis or a meta-analysis. Without extracting these details, there’s nothing comparable to synthesize.

Risk of bias assessment is important for judging study quality and will inform interpretation, but it doesn’t provide the numerical data or summaries needed to combine results. Synthesis then uses the extracted data to present overall findings, and drafting the final report comes later as the culmination of the process.