13 to 15 May 2026
In person, in Melbourne, 9:00am to 4:00pm AEST
Monash Centre for Health Research and Implementation, Monash University.
This course has now concluded
Course CompletedFit-For-Purpose Evidence Synthesis Program
Master the method. Lead the evidence.
Build practical evidence synthesis skills through a rigorous, hands-on program designed for clinicians, researchers and PhD students undertaking systematic reviews, scoping reviews, umbrella reviews, meta-analyses or meta-synthesis projects.
Summary
The Fit-For-Purpose Evidence Synthesis Program provides a rigorous, practical and hands-on foundation to support participants to undertake evidence synthesis projects independently or as part of a team.
The program is suited to clinicians, researchers and PhD students preparing their first evidence synthesis or refining an existing protocol.
Format
3-day in-person intensive with optional online support touchpoints.
Duration
3-day intensive plus optional 2 support touchpoints over 6 months.
Location
MCHRI, Monash University, plus Zoom for optional touchpoints.
Recognition
Monash MNHS-approved certificate upon completion.
Course dates and registration
Fees
Introductory offer
General$242
Discounted rate$206
Discounts are available for students. Staff may be able to use continuing medical education funds where available.
For further information, email MCHRI.Shortcourses@monash.edu.
Who should attend?
This program is designed for clinicians, researchers and PhD students who want to develop or strengthen practical evidence synthesis skills.
Enquiries and conditions
For program details or group enrolment options, please email MCHRI.Shortcourses@monash.edu.
Enrolment is subject to the relevant Monash terms, conditions, cancellation and transfer policies.
Highlights
3-day intensive
In-person training designed to build practical evidence synthesis capability.
Hands-on methods
Develop skills in protocol development, searching, screening, appraisal and synthesis.
Certificate
Participants receive a Monash MNHS-approved certificate upon completion.
Course outline
Day 1
Fundamentals of evidence synthesis, research question development, protocol registration, search strategy and quality appraisal.
Day 2
Search techniques, including Ovid MEDLINE and Ovid Embase, screening using Covidence, data extraction and risk of bias.
Day 3
Meta-analysis, interpreting outcomes, publication bias and advanced synthesis types including meta-synthesis and umbrella reviews.
Optional support touchpoints
Participants can access optional consultations over 6 months to guide and refine their personal review project after the in-person intensive.
Learning objectives
- Formulate a well-structured and answerable research question.
- Choose appropriate evidence synthesis methods for a research question.
- Describe key steps for systematic, scoping and umbrella reviews.
- Retrieve, screen and extract data from studies.
- Assess risk of bias using established methods.
- Conduct and interpret meta-analysis of continuous and categorical outcomes.
The program is delivered by facilitators with expertise in clinical research, biostatistics, evidence synthesis and national guideline development.
Participants learn from practitioners who apply these methods in real-world research, guideline and healthcare improvement contexts.
Guest facilitators may also be invited based on participants’ research interest