New – Second Video Series: How to Read Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses with a Critical Eye

Findings from recent surveys among undergraduate nutrition students¹  and health professionals²  highlight the importance of building skills to scrutinize and critically evaluate nutrition information from non-academic sources, such as social media. One important tool is to follow the hierarchy of scientific evidence. Systematic reviews and meta-analyses (SRMAs) are often considered the highest quality of scientific evidence. However, SRMAs can only provide strong evidence if they are performed well. 

The Canadian Sugar Institute is pleased to share the second series of SRMA educational videos presented by Dr. Laura Chiavaroli (University of Toronto), providing a hands-on experience to critically review and evaluate a SRMA. This series builds on Series 1 and will guide viewers through an interactive exercise to apply your knowledge and skills to critically assess a sample SRMA, or follow along with one of your own, including performing GRADE³ assessment. 

Download these supporting resources to help guide you through this hands-on exercise:

For background information on SRMAs, please watch Series 1 (four parts) “Introduction to SRMAs”.

About the Speaker:

Laura Chiavaroli, PhD is a Clinical Trialist and Post-Doctoral Fellow with Dr. John Sievenpiper at the University of Toronto. Throughout Laura’s training, she has gained robust experience in the conduct of systematic reviews and meta-analyses. She has co-authored over 30 systematic reviews and meta-analyses and focuses much of her time on educating others about how they are performed and interpreted. Laura's primary research interests lie in the field of nutrition and cardiometabolic health, specifically on carbohydrate nutrition, obesity, and diabetes. 

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References: 

1. Ye (Flora) Wang, et al. (2020). Knowledge and Perceptions of Carbohydrates among Nutrition-Major and Nutrition-Elective Undergraduate Students in Canada, Journal of the American College of Nutrition, DOI: 10.1080/07315724.2020.1750503
2. Flora Wang PhD, et al. Knowledge of Sugars Consumption and the WHO Sugars Guideline among Canadian Dietitians and Other Health Professionals. Canadian Journal of Dietetic Practice and Research. 81(3): 142-145. 
3. GRADE: The Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation, a transparent approach to grading the quality of scientific evidence and strength of recommendations, and now considered the standard in guideline development.