What is a systematic review?
Questions by Russ Allison Loar
A Systematic Review is a review of a clearly formulated question that uses systematic and reproducible methods to identify, select and critically appraise all relevant research, and to collect and analyse data from the studies that are included in the review. A systematic review can be either quantitative or qualitative.
A quantitative systematic review will include studies that have numerical data. A qualitative systematic review derives data from observation, interviews, or verbal interactions and focuses on the meanings and interpretations of the participants. It will include focus groups, interviews, observations and diaries.
Examples of different kinds of reviews
Narrative review
Systematic review
Self-management education programs for age-related macular degeneration: A systematic review
Review article
Social factors and recovery from mental health difficulties: A review of the evidence
Systematic review or literature review
The table below will help to differentiate between a systematic review and a literature review
|
Systematic Review |
Literature review |
|
Question |
|
|
Focused on a single question |
An overview not necessarily focused on a single question |
|
Protocol |
|
|
Protocol is planned and specific |
No protocol is included |
|
Background |
|
|
Provides a summary of the available literature on the topic |
Provides a summary of the available literature on the topic |
|
Objectives |
|
|
Clear objectives are identified |
Objectives may or may not be identified |
|
Criteria |
|
|
Inclusion & exclusion criteria is stated before the review is started |
Criteria is not specified |
|
Search strategy |
|
|
Comprehensive search conducted in a systematic way that can be repeated |
Search strategy not explicitly stated |
|
Selecting articles |
|
|
Process stated explicitly |
Not described in the literature review |
|
Evaluating articles |
|
|
Comprehensive evaluation of study quality included |
Evaluation of study quality may or may not be included |
|
Extracting relevant information |
|
|
Process clearly stated |
Not stated |
|
Results and data synthesis |
|
|
Clear summaries of studies based on high quality evidence |
Summary based on studies where the quality of the articles may not be specified. May also be influenced by the reviewer's theories, needs and beliefs |