Systematic Reviews

Systematic Reviews aim to deliver the most precise and unbiased answer to a specific question by systematically gathering, evaluating, and combining the relevant and available evidence. Unlike traditional reviews, systematic reviews follow established guidelines for conducting and reporting in order to increase transparency and reliability. The rigorous nature of this process, combined with the requirements for transparent reporting increases the reliability of findings, reduces both risk and bias, and provides scientists, policy analysts, and leadership with the information required to make more effective and evidence-based decisions.

Process

Systematic reviews follow a structured, pre-defined methodology outlined in a protocol. This includes:

• Formulating a focused question: The review starts with a clearly defined question, often structured using the PICO (Population, Intervention, Comparator, Outcome) or PECO (Population, Exposure, Comparator, Outcome) framework. This structure helps define the scope and ensures all relevant studies are considered.
• Comprehensive search strategy: A systematic search across multiple databases and sources is conducted to identify all relevant studies, minimizing the risk of missing crucial evidence.
• Eligibility screening: Using pre-defined criteria, studies are screened for inclusion based on their relevance to the research question. This ensures only suitable studies are included in the synthesis.
• Data extraction and coding: Key information is systematically extracted from the included studies, using standardized forms to ensure consistency and minimize errors.
• Critical appraisal: Each included study undergoes a rigorous assessment of its reliability and validity. This step examines the study design, methodology, and results to determine the risk of bias and the strength of the evidence.
• Data synthesis: The extracted data from the included studies are synthesized, often using statistical methods like meta-analysis when appropriate, to provide a comprehensive answer to the review question.
• Interpretation and reporting: The findings are interpreted, considering the strengths and limitations of the evidence base, and reported in a clear and transparent manner.