Systematic Reviews

Standard Sections of a Systematic Review

1. Title

   • Should clearly indicate that the article is a systematic review.
   • May include the type of review (e.g., qualitative, meta-analysis) and the population or intervention studied.

2. Abstract

   • Structured format (see PRISMA 2020 for Abstracts).
   • Includes background, objectives, methods*, results, and conclusions.
   • Should summarize key findings and implications.

3. Introduction

   • Describes the problem or gap in knowledge.
   • Justifies the need for the review.
   • States the review question(s) and objectives.

4. Methods

   • Describes the protocol (including registration, e.g., PROSPERO).
   • Details eligibility criteria, search strategy*, databases used, and date ranges.
   • Explains study selection, data extraction, and quality appraisal methods.
   • Includes risk of bias assessment and synthesis approach (e.g., narrative, meta-analysis).
   • Should be replicable and transparent.

5. Results

   • Presents the study selection process (see PRISMA 2020 flow diagram and Prisma Flow Diagram in Covidence).
   • Summarizes characteristics of included studies.
   • Reports findings, including effect sizes, confidence intervals, and heterogeneity.
   • May include tables, figures, and forest plots.

6. Discussion

   • Interprets the findings in context.
   • Discusses strengths and limitations of the review and included studies.
   • Explores implications for practice, policy, and future research.
   • Addresses potential biases and the certainty of evidence.

7. Conclusion

   • Summarizes the main findings.
   • Highlights the relevance and impact of the review.
   • May include recommendations.

8. Funding and Conflicts of Interest

   • Discloses sources of funding and any potential conflicts.

9. References

   • Comprehensive and formatted according to journal or style guidelines (e.g., APA, Vancouver).

10. Supplementary Materials (if applicable)

    • May include full search strategies**, data extraction forms, or additional tables.

Notes:

*Librarians often compose the search strategy methods for the abstract and Methods section of systematic reviews and receive an author credit.

**Librarians can supply the search strategy(s) for Supplementary Appendixes in a Systematic review.

The Carpenter Library's Scholarly Publications librarian, Dianne Johnson, assists with:

Journal Selection for Publication

identifying reputable, relevant journals for manuscript submission. Support includes:

• Matching journals to research scope and audience
• Avoiding predatory publishers
• Reviewing impact factors and indexing status

Open Access Publishing

reducing or eliminating article processing charges (APCs) for open access publishing. The library can:

• Help determine eligibility for institutional agreements
• Advise on Creative Commons licensing
• Navigate publisher policies

Open Access Publishing Guide

NIH Public Access Compliance

For NIH-funded reviews, Carpenter Library supports compliance with the NIH Public Access Policy, which now requires immediate public availability of peer-reviewed articles via PubMed Central:

• Assistance with manuscript submission to NIHMS
• Guidance on journal policies and embargo restrictions
• Help with My Bibliography and biosketch updates

NIH Public Access Policy Guide

Author Metrics and Visibility

Post-publication, the library provides guidance on tracking and enhancing research impact:

• Using tools like Scopus, Web of Science, and Google Scholar
• Understanding h-index, citation counts, and Altmetrics
• Optimizing ORCID profiles and scholarly presence

Research Metrics Guide