"A systematic review attempts to identify, appraise, and synthesize all the empirical evidence that meets pre-specified eligibility criteria to answer a given research question. Researchers conducting systematic reviews use explicit methods aimed at minimizing bias, in order to produce more reliable findings that can be used to inform decision making."
-About Cochrane Reviews, Cochrane Library
Systematic reviews are part of a larger category of research methodologies known as evidence syntheses or knowledge syntheses. While many types of evidence syntheses exist, these are the methodologies that the Dana Medical Library is prepared to support and collaborate on.
Is this table too much? Consider using our tool Which Review is Right for YOU?
Review Type |
Typical Use |
Important Notes |
Systematic Review |
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Scoping Review |
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Umbrella Review |
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Literature/Narrative Review |
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Critical Review |
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Systematized Review |
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Chart adapted from: Grant MJ, Booth A. A typology of reviews: an analysis of 14 review types and associated methodologies. Health Info Libr J. 2009 Jun;26(2):91-108. doi: 10.1111/j.1471-1842.2009.00848.x.
Here are some standards and additional research synthesis methods papers to get you started:
Chandler, J., Churchill, R., Higgins, J., Lasserson, T., & Tovey, D. (2013). Methodological standards for the conduct of new Cochrane Intervention Reviews, Version 2.3. Available from http://www.editorial-unit.cochrane.org/mecir.
European Network for Health Technology Assessment. (2019) Guideline: Process of information retrieval for systematic reviews and health technology assessments on clinical effectiveness Version 2.0. DEC 2019. Available from: https://www.eunethta.eu/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/EUnetHTA_Guideline_Information_Retrieval_v2-0.pdf.
Higgins, J., Green, S., & (editors). (2011). Cochrane Handbook for Systematic Reviews of Interventions Version 5.1.0 [updated March 2011]. J. Higgins & S. Green (Eds.), Available from: http://handbook.cochrane.org/.
IOM (Institute of Medicine). (2011). Finding What Works in Health Care: Standards for Systematic Reviews. Available from: https://www.nap.edu/catalog/13059/finding-what-works-in-health-care-standards-for-systematic-reviews.
Liberati, A., Altman, D. G., Tetzlaff, J., Mulrow, C., Gotzsche, P. C., Ioannidis, J. P., . . . Moher, D. (2009). The PRISMA statement for reporting systematic reviews and meta-analyses of studies that evaluate health care interventions: explanation and elaboration. PLoS Medicine, 6(7), e1000100. doi: 10.1371/journal.pmed.1000100. Available from: https://journals.plos.org/plosmedicine/article/file?id=10.1371/journal.pmed.1000100&type=printable.
Moher, D., Liberati, A., Tetzlaff, J., Altman, D. G., & Prisma Group. (2009). Preferred reporting items for systematic reviews and meta-analyses: the PRISMA statement. PLoS Medicine, 6(7), e1000097. doi: 10.1371/journal.pmed.1000097. Available from: https://journals.plos.org/plosmedicine/article/file?id=10.1371/journal.pmed.1000097&type=printable.
Moher D., Shamseer L., Clarke M., Ghersi D., Liberati A., Petticrew M., . . . PRISMA-P Group (2015). Preferred reporting items for systematic review and meta-analysis protocols (PRISMA-P) 2015 statement. Systematic Reviews, 4(1), doi:10.1186/2046-4053-4-1. Availalble from: https://www.bmj.com/content/bmj/349/bmj.g7647.full.pdf.
Rader, T., Mann, M., Stansfield, C., Cooper, C., & Sampson, M. (2013). Methods for documenting systematic review searches: a discussion of common issues. Research Synthesis Methods, Article first published online: 8 OCT 2013. doi: 10.1002/jrsm.1097. Available from: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1002/jrsm.1097.
Rethlefsen, M. L., Murad, M., & Livingston, E. H. (2014). Engaging medical librarians to improve the quality of review articles. JAMA, 312(10), 999-1000. doi: 10.1001/jama.2014.9263. Availalble from: https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/fullarticle/1902238.
Shamseer, L., Moher, D., Clarke, M., Ghersi, D., Liberati, A. D., Petticrew, M., . . . PRISMA-P Group. (2015). Preferred reporting items for systematic review and meta-analysis protocols (PRISMA-P) 2015: elaboration and explanation. BMJ, 349, g7647. doi: 10.1136/bmj.g7647. Available from: https://www.bmj.com/content/bmj/349/bmj.g7647.full.pdf.
Umscheid, C. A. (2013). A Primer on Performing Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses. Clinical Infectious Diseases, 57(5), 725-734. doi: 10.1093/cid/cit333. Available from: https://academic.oup.com/cid/article/57/5/725/311245.
This website has been adapted from the Northwestern University Galter Health Sciences Library's Systematic Reviews guide.