Task Force on Systematic Review and Guidelines
The Task Force on Systematic Review and Guidelines develops and presents consensus/position statements and recommends strategies associated with the conduct of systematic reviews in disability and rehabilitation research.
Task Force Objectives
- To review role of systematic reviews in NIDRR-sponsored research.
- To consider roles in implications of systematic reviews in structuring NIDRR's research agenda.
- To describe expectations related to systematic review appropriate for inclusion in NIDRR research project announcements.
- To review appropriate use of systematic reviews and other approaches to aggregating evidence-based knowledge addressing the three stages of knowledge.
- To describe resources needed to support NIDRR grantees involvement in systematic reviews and guideline development.
- To suggest strategies to promote the use of evidence-based systematic reviews and guidelines.
The Task Force held regular teleconferences to discuss topics related to these objectives.
Task Force Members
The Task Force is made up of experienced NIDRR-funded researchers who volunteered to work in this capacity.
- Marcel Dijkers (Facilitator, 2006-2011)
- Michael Boninger (2006-2009)
- Tamara Bushnik (2006-2011)
- Peter Esselman (2006-2010)
- Steven Gard (2006-2008)
- Wayne Gordon (2006-2010)
- Allen Heinemann (2006-2011)
- Tamar Heller (2009-2011)
- Alexander Libin (2009-2011)
- Chad Nye (2010-2011)
- Mark Sherer (2006-2011)
- David Vandergoot (2006-2011)
- Michael L Wehmeyer (2006-2009)
- Joann Starks (NCDDR Liaison, 2006-2011)
Outcomes
- In 2008 the Task Force developed two papers for public review and comment. The first paper focused on Systematic vs. traditional reviews and was presented in a webcast on September 3, 2008.
- See: "The value of 'traditional reviews' in the era of systematic reviewing," published in the American Journal of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation (May 2009, Vol. 88, No. 5, pp. 423-430)
- The second paper addressed evidence in systematic reviews and was introduced in a webcast held October 28, 2008.
- See: Dijkers, M. P. J. M. for the NCDDR Task Force on Systematic Review and Guidelines. (2009). When the best is the enemy of the good: The nature of research evidence used in systematic reviews and guidelines. Austin, TX: SEDL.
- In 2009 the Task Force started developing a checklist, which was finalized in 2011 as Guidelines for Assessing the Quality and Applicability of Systematic Reviews.
- Members of the Task Force presented the draft checklist in a two-part workshop session at the 2010 NARRTC Conference (May 3, 2010).
- A group of Task Force members presented the updated checklist at the 2010 ACRM Conference on October 21, 2010.
- Task Force members submitted a proposal to ACRM for an all-day pre-conference symposium at the 2011 conference in Atlanta. The proposal was accepted and the symposium will take place on October 12, 2011.
- In 2011, an article entitled "Systematic Reviews for Informing Rehabilitation Practice: An Introduction" was accepted for publication by the Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation.
