What is a Systematic Review?
A systematic review is an evidence synthesis that uses explicit, reproducible methods to perform a comprehensive literature search and critical appraisal of individual studies and that uses appropriate statistical techniques to combine these valid studies.
Key Characteristics of a Systematic Review:
Generally, systematic reviews must have:
- a clearly stated set of objectives with pre-defined eligibility criteria for studies
- an explicit, reproducible methodology
- a systematic search that attempts to identify all studies that would meet the eligibility criteria
- an assessment of the validity of the findings of the included studies, for example through the assessment of the risk of bias
- a systematic presentation, and synthesis, of the characteristics and findings of the included studies.
A meta-analysis is a systematic review that uses quantitative methods to synthesize and summarize the pooled data from included studies.
Additional Information
Finding What Works in Health Care by ISBN: 9780309164252Publication Date: 2011-07-20Call Number: Blaisdell Medical Library, W 84.3 I595f 2011
How to Perform a Systematic Literature Review by ISBN: 9783030496715Publication Date: 2020-08-05E-Book available for download from the publisher.
Systematic Reviews in Health Care by Call Number: Carlson Health Sci Library, WA20.5 S995 2001ISBN: 9780470693148Publication Date: 2008-04-15
Systematic Reviews in Health Care by Call Number: Carlson Health Sci Library, W20.5 S9955 2001ISBN: 9780521799621Publication Date: 2001-11-08
Systematic Reviews to Support Evidence-Based Medicine, 2nd Edition by Call Number: Blaisdell Medical Library, WB 102 S97 2011ISBN: 9781853157998Publication Date: 2011-07-29
- Cochrane Handbook For Systematic Reviews of InterventionsProvides guidance to authors for the preparation of Cochrane Intervention reviews. Chapter 6 covers searching for reviews.
- Systematic Reviews: CRD’s Guidance for Undertaking Reviews in Health CareFrom The University of York Centre for Reviews and Dissemination:
Provides practical guidance for undertaking evidence synthesis based on a thorough understanding of systematic review methodology. It presents the core principles of systematic reviewing, and in complementary chapters, highlights issues that are specific to reviews of clinical tests, public health interventions, adverse effects, and economic evaluations.
- Cornell, Sytematic Reviews and Evidence Synthesis Beyond the Health SciencesVideo series geared for librarians but very informative about searching outside medicine.