Archivos españoles de urología
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The Framework Program for Research and Technological Development constitutes the main instrument the European Union has had for financing research since 1984. The current Sixth Framework Program (6FP), that covers the period 2002-2006, includes clinical research among the activities subsidized at the European level. Other research activities in the field of medicine, particularly genomics and research activities connecting basic knowledge generation with its applications in the field of health also receive a special emphasis. ⋯ Both these and the more modest traditional instruments require participation of groups from different countries in a consortium, mainly from the European Community countries. The process of evaluation is carried out looking at relevance criteria, scientific excellence, potential impact, and quality of the consortium, among others. Spanish researchers, among others, are wellcome to participate in the consortiums, coordinate projects and also to assist as experts in the evaluations.
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A systematic review is characterized by the application of the scientific method to the evaluation of scientific literature. When a systematic review uses statistical techniques to combine and summarize the results from previous studies, it is called meta-analysis. ⋯ Its greater objectivity and rigour in comparison with the traditional reviews make that meta-analysis techniques are little by little being generalized as standard instrument to evaluate scientific evidence. In this article we detail the objectives and applications of this type of studies, as well as the stages in its preparation, including the presentation of results.