Workshop on “Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis"
The Workshop on Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis (SR&MA) was held on 4 th September 2025 at the National Institute of Siddha (NIS), Tambaram, Chennai, in collaboration with ICMR-NIRT. The programme brought together nearly 50 participants, including Siddha faculty, researchers, and staff from allied institutes. The sessions were inaugurated with warm welcomes and felicitation remarks by Prof. Dr. G. Senthilvel, Director In-charge, NIS, who stressed the importance of research integrity and the role of systematic reviews in enhancing the credibility of Siddha and AYUSH systems.
Key sessions included an introduction to SR&MA concepts, PROSPERO registration, PRISMA reporting, effect size estimation, heterogeneity, and meta-analysis interpretation. Practical training was given on PubMed search strategies, use of MeSH terms, and Rayyan screening software. Participants also engaged in group discussions to frame research questions using the PICO framework, focusing on priority topics such as diabetes, TB, hypertension, cancer, and post-COVID complications.
Dr. Muniyandi and Dr. Karikalan emphasized that systematic reviews are the highest level of evidence, crucial for policymaking and publication in reputed journals. The workshop concluded with positive participant feedback, highlighting its value in skill development, collaboration, and advancing evidence-based Siddha practice. It marked the beginning of capacity-building efforts, aiming to generate multiple SR drafts within the next six months.
