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Grainger Graduate Assistant Evidence Synthesis Training

Overview: Systematic Reviews

What is a Systematic Review?

The primary purpose of a systematic review is to strengthen quality of evidence that can be used to make decisions for patient care, policy, and practices, optimizing positive outcomes

 

 

Why do a systematic review?

Session 5 Evidence-Based Practice review

Systematic reviews were first developed in the field of medicine in the 1970s. Systematic Reviews were developed to communicate the highest quality of evidence for medical practitioners to make informed decisions for quality patient care while also reducing the overall burden on the medical practitioners' time. 

  1. Provide accurate summary of all results
  2. Make good decisions quickly
    1. Evidence-Based Medicine / Evidence-Based Practice
    2. D.M. Sackett
  3. Higher impact publications

 

 

Cochrane Library Description of Systematic Review

A systematic review attempts to identify, appraise and synthesize all the empirical evidence that meets pre-specified eligibility criteria to answer a specific research question. Researchers conducting systematic reviews use explicit, systematic methods that are selected with a view aimed at minimizing bias, to produce more reliable findings to inform decision making

 

 

Or, a Systematic Review is...

A comprehensive collection and critical appraisal of all evidence on a narrowly-defined topic using standardized methods and tools to synthesize and transparently report conclusions

  • Reduces Bias
  • Improves reliability and validity

 

 

Systematic Review: Definition breakdown

  • Answer narrowly-defined clinical question
    • PICO question
      • P = Population / problem / patient
      • I = Intervention (or Cause or Prognosis)
      • C = Comparison intervention (optional)
      • O = Outcome
      • (optional: S = Study type or T = Time)
  • Comprehensive and structured collection and critical appraisal of all evidence
    • Traditional publishers and grey literature
    • Critical appraisal is required
  • Documented, transparent, reproducible methods
    1. Research question
    2. Plan / protocol
    3. Literature search
    4. Screening
    5. Critical appraisal
    6. Data extraction
    7. Synthesize and interpret data
    8. Report findings

 

Steps of Systematic Review using PRISMA Reporting Guideline

SR guidelines

 

 

PRISMA (2009) Flow Diagram

PRISMA guide on reporting steps of Systematic Review

 

 

Librarian's role on Systematic Review team

PRISMA 2009 diagram demonstrating librarians role focused on conducting literature search and reporting results.

 

 

PRISMA (2020) Flow Diagram(s)

 

PRISMA 2020 reporting or Systematic Review workflow

 

 

Resources