Objectives:
The objectives of this workshop are the following:
• To introduce the Joanna Briggs Institute approach to systematic reviews of prevalence;
• To provide an overview of the steps involved in a systematic review of prevalence;
• To discuss software for systematic reviews of prevalence;
• To provide participants with hands on experience with assessing risk of bias in prevalence studies.

Description: Prevalence systematic reviews and meta-analysis is an emerging methodology in the field of evidence synthesis. These reviews can provide useful information for healthcare professionals and policymakers on the burden of disease, show changes and trends over time in disease, and inform geographical distributions of disease and conditions. Currently, there is only limited guidance for authors aiming to undertake systematic reviews addressing questions of prevalence. A methodological working group of the Joanna Briggs Institute was formed to create guidance for conducting systematic reviews of studies reporting prevalence and cumulative incidence information.
Systematic reviews of prevalence data should follow the same structured steps as systematic reviews of effectiveness. However, many of these steps need to be tailored for this type of evidence, particularly surrounding the stages of critical appraisal and synthesis (meta-analysis). This workshop will discuss some of these adapted steps and provide hands-on experience for participants.