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Improving the evidence base for transfusion medicine: the work of the UK Systematic Review Initiative
Article first published online: 23 MAR 2009
DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-3148.2009.00910.x
© 2009 Crown Copyright. Journal compilation © 2009 British Blood Transfusion Society
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How to Cite
Brunskill, S. J., Hyde, C. J., Stanworth, S. J., Dorée, C. J., Roberts, D. J. and Murphy, M. F. (2009), Improving the evidence base for transfusion medicine: the work of the UK Systematic Review Initiative. Transfusion Medicine, 19: 59–65. doi: 10.1111/j.1365-3148.2009.00910.x
Publication History
- Issue published online: 20 APR 2009
- Article first published online: 23 MAR 2009
- Received 30 January 2008; accepted for publication 17 November 2008
- Abstract
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Keywords:
- evidence;
- systematic reviews;
- transfusion medicine
summary Clarifying the existing evidence base is crucial to improve the effectiveness of transfusion practice. The UK Systematic Review Initiative has been pursuing this objective primarily through writing systematic reviews on important topics in transfusion medicine. Here, we describe our progress for the past 5 years. We are the only research group that identifies transfusion medicine randomized controlled trials (RCTs) for the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, and to date, we have contributed 3002 RCT citations. The article considers future challenges including the need for wider involvement from the transfusion medicine community in the process of maintaining and updating systematic reviews and the identification and prioritization of topics for further clinical research including clinical trials. Collaboration between international and local research groups is important if these challenges are to be met.