WORKSHOP PROGRAMME

The course will run from 9am-5pm BST, and will include a mixture of pre-recorded lectures, live lectures, and interactive sessions. To offer more flexibility for participants, pre-recorded lectures will be available as of 11th October 2021, and all materials will be available until 29th October 2021.

TARGET AUDIENCE:

This workshop is intended for a broad audience, including: healthcare researchers; statisticians and non-statisticians; study managers and data managers; funders; journal editors; and clinicians or other staff involved in the funding, delivery, appraisal, and/or interpretation of IPD meta-analyses in healthcare.

LEARNING OBJECTIVES:

By the end of the two-day workshop, participants will:

  •  Have a deep understanding of what an IPD meta-analysis is, and the types of research questions it can address.

  •  Know when and why to conduct an IPD meta-analysis rather than a traditional systematic review and meta-analysis of (published) aggregate data, or a primary study with new data collection. 

  • Be fully aware of the ethical and governance issues involved in IPD meta-analysis projects.

  • Understand the fundamental steps involved in completion of an IPD meta-analysis project, including: identification of relevant studies; selection of IPD and variables for analyses; obtaining IPD; examining data quality and risk of bias; data cleaning and checking; harmonising IPD; and merging data for analyses.

  • Know how to calculate the potential power of an IPD meta-analysis to address the research question(s) of interest, and how to use that to ensure that data collection is targeted and as efficient as possible.

  • Understand the basic principles of fundamental approaches to IPD meta-analysis; specifically, differences in 1-stage and 2-stage approaches, why they may differ, and when each should be used.  

  •  Understand how to achieve active Patient and Public Involvement and Engagement (PPIE) throughout the IPD meta-analysis project.

  •  Ensure timely dissemination of IPD meta-analyses and adherence to reporting guidelines.

  • Critically appraise published IPD meta-analyses.   

  • Gain individual advice during a one-to-one ‘expert consultation’ session.

OPTIONAL READING AND RESOURCES:

LEVIS B, HOLDEN MA, HATTLE M, ET AL. The Keele Toolbox for IPD Meta-analyses. 1st January 2021. https://www.keele.ac.uk/pcsc/research/ctu/whatweoffer/educationandtraining/ipdmatoolbox/

LEVIS B, HATTLE M, RILEY RD. Retrieving, checking, and harmonizing data are underappreciated challenges in individual participant data meta-analyses. J Clin Epi. Online ahead of print.

RILEY RD, TIERNEY J, STEWART LS (eds). Individual Participant Data Meta-Analysis: A Handbook for Healthcare Research. Wiley, Chisester, 2021.

RILEY, R. D., LAMBERT, P. C. & ABO-ZAID, G. 2010. Meta-analysis of individual participant data: rationale, conduct, and reporting. BMJ, 340, c221.

TIERNEY, J. F., VALE, C., RILEY, R., SMITH, C. T., STEWART, L., CLARKE, M. & ROVERS, M. 2015. Individual Participant Data (IPD) Meta-analyses of Randomised Controlled Trials: Guidance on Their Use. PLoS Med, 12, e1001855.

VENTRESCA M, SCHUNEMANN HJ, MACBETH F, ET AL. 2020. Obtaining and managing data sets for individual participant data meta-analysis: scoping review and practical guide. BMC Med Res Methodol, 20, 113, doi: 10.1186/s12874-020-00964-6.

DRAFT PROGRAMME:

Thursday 14th October  

09:00 - 09:30

Logging into the system, virtual meet and greet

09:30 - 09:45

Welcome and introductions

09:45 - 11:15

IPD meta-analysis: The ‘what’, ‘why’ and ‘when’ including interactive small group work

11:15 - 11:30

Break

11:30 - 12:30

Guest speaker: Prof. Shakila Thangaratinam. Initiating and managing IPD projects – example from the pregnancy field

12:30 - 13:00

Question and Answer Session

13:00 - 13:30

Lunch

13:30 - 15:00

Identification of relevant studies; selection, obtaining and sharing of IPD, including problem-solving in small groups

15:00 - 15:15

Break

15:15 - 16:15

Data handling and harmonisation including resolving missing data

16:15 - 17:00

Optional - Meet the expert session - opportunity for one-to-one advice (Sign up in advance for a 15-minute slot)

  

Friday 15th October

08:45 - 09:00

Log in ready for the day ahead

09:00 - 10:00

Examining the quality and risk of bias in IPD obtained (Group work / partner work)

10:00 - 11:00

Approaches to IPD meta-analysis (1 stage or 2 stage)

11:00 - 11:15

Break

11:15 - 12:15

How much IPD is enough? Power calculations for IPD projects and the online calculator

12:15 - 12:45

Lunch

12:45 - 14:00

Guest speaker: Prof. Catrin Tudur Smith. The benefits and impact of IPD over aggregate data – the example in the field of epilepsy

14:00 - 14:15

Break

14:15 - 15:00

PPIE in IPD meta-analyses and dissemination

15:00 - 16:15

Critical appraisal of IPD projects in small groups

16:15 - 16:45

Optional - Meet the expert session – opportunity for one to one advice (Sign up in advance for a 15-minute slot)

16:45 - 17:00

Workshop Close