Systematic Reviews are sometimes used as an educational tool for the development of health sciences students. The projects are often assigned to students in an effort for them to build skills in exploring the literature, finding relevant articles on a research topic and critically evaluating information. True systematic reviews are team-based, collaborative research endeavors that take up to 18 months to complete. They are intended to inform clinical practice and public health policy and need to adhere to established methodological standards in an effort to reduce biases. This methodology is not compatible for a class project or academic assignment, and asking students to complete systematic reviews could set false expectations for what the methodology entails, regardless of whether students are asked to publish their work or not.

This seminar is intended to start a conversation about curriculum development that examines the merits and pitfalls of assigning systematic reviews to students, and to discuss alternative projects that would meet faculty expectations at CUIMC.

Learning objectives:

• Explain the academic purpose for conducting systematic reviews
• Differentiate between learning and publication objectives for those assigned systematic reviews
• Set realistic expectations in terms of research production and publication
• Investigate alternative types of assignments