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We frequently receive requests for help with writing systematic reviews. Here is a summary of the
steps for writing a systematic review and a reference list of Library resources.
Contact Mary(mary.simons@mq.edu.au ) or Karen (karen.marks@mq.edu.au ) for further assistance.
A systematic review is an overview of primary studies that used explicit and reproducible methods.
Systematic reviews apply scientific strategies that limit bias by the systematic assembly, critical
appraisal and synthesis of all relevant studies on a specific topic
A meta-analysis is a mathematical synthesis of the results of two or more primary studies that
addressed the same hypothesis in the same way
Systematic reviews as well as meta-analyses of appropriate studies can be the best form of evidence
available for health care practitioners
1. Research Question
The first step in performing a systematic review is to formulate a primary research question as part of
the research protocol. Appropriate questions to be addressed include: (1) phenomena associated
with disease or interventions, (2) disease or condition frequency, (3) diagnostic accuracy, (4) disease
etiology and/or risk factors, (5) prognosis, and (6) intervention effects.
The aims of a systematic review can be varied and include: (1) clarifying the relative strengths and
weaknesses of the literature on the question, (2) summarizing a large amount of literature, (3)
resolving literature conflicts, (4) evaluating the need for a large clinical trial, (5) avoiding a redundant
unnecessary trial, (6) increasing the statistical power of smaller studies, (7) improving the precision or
identify a smaller treatment effect, and (8) improving the generalizability of treatment outcomes.
2. Research Protocol
Once the research question is formulated, the research protocol is developed. The goal of developing
a research protocol is to develop formulation of the questions and methods of the review before
retrieving the literature. The methods for literature searching, screening, data extraction, and analysis
should be contained in a written document to minimize bias before starting the literature search.
3. Literature Search
Sources to search for studies for systematic reviews:
Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (via Cochrane Library)
Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews (via Cochrane Library)
Database of Abstracts of Reviews of Effects (DARE) database ie: other reviews (via
Cochrane Library)
Medline and Embase (Library does not subscribe to Embase)
Other databases, eg CINAHL, Scopus, PsycINFO
Journals
Conference proceedings
reviews and meta-analyses. PRISMA should be a helpful resource to improve reporting of systematic
reviews and meta-analyses.
References used for this summary (all are available from the Library):
Wright, R. W., R. A. Brand, et al. (2007). "How to Write a Systematic Review." Clinical Orthopaedics
and Related Research 455: 23-29
Systematic reviews in health care a practical guide / Paul Glasziou ... [et al.]. Cambridge ; New York :
Cambridge University Press, 2001. eBook: Available via Library catalogue
Greenhalgh, T. (1997). "How to read a paper: Papers that summarise other papers (systematic
reviews and meta-analyses)." BMJ 315(7109): 672-675.
Oxman, A. D. (1994). "Systematic Reviews: Checklists for review articles." BMJ 309(6955): 648-651.
Systematic reviews and meta-analysis /Julia H. Littell, Jacqueline Corcoran, Vijayan Pillai.
Series Title: Pocket guides to social work research methods Oxford ;New York : Oxford University
Press. Available in Library: H62 .L497 2008
Harvey, R. (2007). "Systematic review as a primer rather than endpoint for clinical research: The
training perspective." Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery 137(4): S66-S68.
Moher D, Liberati A, Tetzlaff J, Altman DG, The PRISMA Group (2009). Preferred Reporting Items for
Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses: The PRISMA Statement. PLoS Med 6(6): e1000097.
doi:10.1371/journal.pmed1000097
Cochrane handbook for systematic reviews of interventions / edited by Julian P.T. Higgins Chichester,
England ; Hoboken, NJ : Wiley-Blackwell and Sally Green., c2008. Available in Library: R723.7 .C63
2008
Mary Simons, 1 February, 2011