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Search strategies for systematic reviews

Systematic Review

What is a systematic review?

A systematic review is a research method where you start with a precise and delimited research area. The research area is systematically searched for relevant studies which are then quality assessed. Every research step in this method should be well described to ensure that the systematic review is transparent and reproducible.

Different steps conducting a systematic review

  • A precise and delimited research question
  • Register protocol
  • A systematic literature search in several databases
  • Check for duplicates
  • Screen for articles based on inclusion and/or exclusion criteria (screening of title - abstract - full text)
  • Risk of bias (screening template like RoBIS, RoB)
  • Extract data
  • Compile and analyse

 

Sometimes all of the steps above will not be followed. Journals, depending on discipline, can have other demands. Journals can also have different claims of how a systematic review should be conducted, so always check which guidelines you should follow.

Meta analysis

Systematic reviews sometimes contain a meta-analysis, wherein the collected data is combined using statistical method.

What are Systematic Reviews - a film from Cochrane

What are systematic reviews - a film from Cochrane

Cochrane is an independent, diverse, global organization that collaborates to produce trusted synthesized evidence.

PRISMA

PRISMA - Guidelines

There are international guidelines for how a systematic review should be conducted and reported. Preferred Reported Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA), is foremost intended for studies with a quantitative method but can also be used for qualitative studies.

PRISMA Statement - Guidelines for Reporting Systematic Reviews

Register Protocol

Register protocol

Prospero

Prospero is a database for systematic reviews, where you can search for ongoing systematic reviews and also register protocols when you start a project. Prospero only register systematic reviews.

PROSPERO

Open science framework (OSF)

Open Science Framework  is a archive for preprints, datasets and study protocols. You can search for registered protocols and register your own project. OSF register protocols for different types of litterature reviews.

OSF

Figshare

Figshare is a archive for preprints, datasets and study protocols. You can search for registered protocols and register your own project. Figshare register protocols for different types of litterature reviews.

Figshare

Method texts

Methodology for systematic reviews

There are several organizations that conduct systematic reviews from a specific methodology, for example Cochrane, Campbell Collaboration or Joanna Briggs Institute. Their methodology can be a support even if you're not doing the specific kind of review. The journal you are looking to publish in can also have methodology guidelines.

Cochrane Handbook

Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) - Methodology

Swedish Agency for Health Technology Assessment and Assessment of Social Services - Method

Campbell Collaboration Handbook