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Review Process

Review Group Membership and Roles

In addition to the Review Group members outlined below other people who have expertise in the area under review may be invited.

ASERNIP-S Surgical Director
The Surgical Director is the Chairperson of the Review Group.

ASERNIP-S Researcher
The ASERNIP-S Researcher coordinates the systematic review process and organises the Review Group. The Researcher drafts the protocol for the systematic review, in conjunction with the Protocol Surgeon, and searches appropriate databases for peer-reviewed literature on the procedure. Relevant outcomes and other data are extracted from the articles and tabulated. A meta-analysis is conducted, where appropriate ie. Where data from individual studies is able to be combined and analysed statistically. The information is summarised, and along with the tabulated information is provided to the Review Group as a draft systematic review.

Protocol Surgeon
The Protocol Surgeon is familiar with the literature relating to the procedure. The Protocol Surgeon assists the Researcher to draft the protocol for the systematic review.

Advisory Surgeon/s
The Advisory Surgeon is an expert from the relevant specialty group but is not intimately involved in the procedure. The Advisory Surgeon is available for guidance, if required, by the Researcher during the preparation of the draft systematic review.

Surgeon from Another Specialty Section or Division
The surgeon from another specialty provides balance to the review group. He or she receives a copy of the draft systematic review for comment.

Other Invited Members
To maintain a balance in terms of perceived bias, and to include expertise from other related areas, other persons will be invited to join the Review Group to provide their input.

Each member of the group receives a copy of the protocol and the draft systematic review compiled by the ASERNIP-S Researcher. The draft review is critiqued and comments are forwarded to ASERNIP-S for dissemination prior to the Review Group teleconference. The Review Group discusses the systematic review and reaches a consensus on the safety and efficacy classification for the procedure and formulates any clinical recommendations.