HMC Evidence Collaborative
Using evidence from existing research to inform design of new studies
Defining research questions and designing new studies
Where evidence syntheses fail to answer the questions posed by clinical uncertainties, new research is indicated. Undertaking a systematic review or evidence synthesis helps to define the research questions that need to be addressed, and provides valuable information about how new research studies should be designed.
It is also good practice to plan to incorporate the findings of any new primary research study you undertake into an existing evidence synthesis.
Evidence synthesis as a requirement for funding new research
Research funders world-wide are increasingly requiring researchers to undertake a synthesis of existing research as a condition of funding.
The National Institute for Health research in the UK has developed a framework for ‘adding value to research’ which emphasizes the central important of systematic reviews or other evidence syntheses.
