LibGuides: Systematic Reviews: Home

What is a Systematic Review?

A systematic review attempts to collate all empirical evidence that fits pre-specified eligibility criteria in order to answer a specific research question.The key characteristics of a systematic review are:

a clearly defined question that includes inclusion and exclusion criteria
an explicit, reproducible methodology
a rigorous systematic search to identify all studies that would meet the eligibility criteria
critical appraisal of included studies
data extraction and management
analysis and interpretation of results
report for publication

Grindlay D. Karantana A. Putting the ‘systematic’ into searching – tips and resources for search strategies in systematic reviews. Journal of Hand Surgery (European Volume) 2018;43(6):674–8.

Systematic Review forms

Systematic Review checklist

Librarians can help by conducting searches. Please fill out this Systematic Review request.

Systematic Review Guides

Cochrane Handbook for Systematic Reviews of Interventions

Institute of Medicine Standards for Systematic Reviews

PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses)

Methods Guide for Effectiveness and Comparative Effectiveness Reviews (AHRQ)

Systematic Reviews: CRD's Guidance for Undertaking Reviews in Health Care

Systematic Review Timeline

Month Activity

1 – 2 Preparation of protocol

3 – 8 Searches for published/unpublished studies

2 – 3 Pilot test of eligibility criteria

3 – 8 Inclusion assessments

3 Pilot test of ‘Risk of bias’ assessment

3 – 10 Validity assessments

3 Pilot test of data collection

3 – 10 Data collection

3 – 10 Data entry

5 – 11 Follow up of missing information

8 – 10 Analysis

1 – 11 Preparation of review report

12 – Keeping the review up-to-date

Source: Higgins JPT, Green S (editors). Cochrane Handbook for Systematic Reviews of Interventions Version 5.1.0 [updated March 2011]. The Cochrane Collaboration, 2011. Available from www.cochrane-handbook.org.