title: Evidence synthesis and its role in evidence-based health care.
abstract: The central role of evidence synthesis (or the systematic review of evidence) in evidence-based health care is often poorly understood. There are numerous examples in the literature of poorly conceived and/or executed systematic reviews and of a lack of awareness of the international standards developed by the international leaders in systematic reviews. The Cochrane Collaboration has played a critical global role in developing and refining systematic review methods in relation to evidence of effects and of diagnostic accuracy.
authors.affiliation: Joanna Briggs Institute, School of Translational Health Science, The University of Adelaide, South Australia 5000, Australia. Electronic address: alan.pearson@adelaide.edu.au.
authors.forename: Alan
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Pearson
mesh_terms: D019049:Developed Countries; D003906:Developing Countries; D055318:Evidence-Based Nursing; D014481:United States
keywords: Best practice; Evidence-based health care; Nursing