An effective method to summarise the outcomes of questionnaire-based studies in systematic reviews

Acta Odontol Scand. 2022 Nov;80(8):569-572. doi: 10.1080/00016357.2022.2052957. Epub 2022 Mar 19.

Abstract

With an increased number of questionnaire-based knowledge, attitude, practice and other types of studies, there is a need to perform evidence-based research in such designs as well. The systematic reviews (SR) and meta-analyses (MA) of the questionnaire-based studies are difficult to conduct and summarise due to the wide variations in the questions included in each of them. The presentation of these reviews often leads to ambiguous conclusions, and meta-analysis is not possible due to wide heterogeneity. This paper aims to highlight a method known as the 'Knowledge-Attitude-Practice' or 'KAP' Heat Map, which was developed and validated for the effective presentation of the outcomes of varied questionnaires in systematic reviews.

Keywords: Construct; VisualMap; attitude; knowledge; practice; questionnaire studies; systematic review.

Publication types

  • Meta-Analysis

MeSH terms

  • Humans
  • Research Design*
  • Surveys and Questionnaires
  • Systematic Reviews as Topic