"Systematic reviews seek to collate evidence that fits pre-specified eligibility criteria in order to answer a specific research question. They aim to minimize bias by using explicit, systematic methods documented in advance with a protocol." (Cochrane Handbook Version 6.1, 2020)
Systematic reviews have become crucial in the evidence-based practice of health care professionals particularly - often used as the basis for the creation of clinical guidelines. They are also increasingly being used in other disciplines such as psychology, education, sociology, environmental science, engineering and business management.
Key characteristics of a systematic review include:
- a clearly defined topic, with pre-defined eligibility criteria for studies
- a systematic and reproducible search strategy
- the critical appraisal of included studies
- a synthesis and systematic presentation of the findings of the included studies
Not everybody is a proponent of the systematic review, and they are not to be undertaken by the faint-hearted. "The idea of a systematic review is a nonsense, and the sooner those advocates of it are tried at the International Court of Human Rights in the Hague (or worse still, sent for counselling), the better." (Rees, 2002).
It could be that a Critically Appraised Topic (CAT) or Scoping Review is more relevant for your purposes. However, even a narrative review should be undertaken with systematic rigour, so parts of this guide will still be useful depending on how far you go with your research.
NOTE: A Meta-analysis is a statistical way to combine quantitative data extracted from a systematic review. Every meta-analysis has a systematic review behind it, but not every systematic review results in a meta-analysis! |
Rees, J. L. (2002). Two cultures? Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology, 46(2), 313-314. doi:10.1067/mjd.2002.120618