What is a Systematic Review - Pubrica

1. What is a Systematic Review Dr. Nancy Agens, Head, Technical Operations, Pubrica sales@pubrica.com In Brief A systematic review is a secondary research as it requires a careful analysis of the quality, quantity, and consistency of research findings. Systematic reviews formulate research questions that are specifically targeted and designed to provide a complete summary of the issue based on evidence. The methodology used in systematic reviews is specific and precise, which intends to minimize bias by increasing the reliability of the drawn conclusion. I. INTRODUCTION A systematic review is a process of identifying comprehensive studies for a research specific evaluating the methods of the study, summarizing the results, presenting key findings, identifying reasons for produced results across the study and mentioning limitations with current knowledge. A systematic review is the most reliable source of evidence for clinical practices as it delivers thorough summary of primary research in response to the defined research question and it is also known as secondary research because of the nature and use of existing research study. Though systematic review can be performed on all primary research, they are often used for guideline development, and the findings are applied mainly within the healthcare systems. In a systematic review, the compiled information tends to be explicit and more transparent using reproducible methods. Further, it expresses a precise aim through rigorous predetermined eligibility studies, an assessment of the validity of the findings, a systematic presentation and synthesis of the included primary research studies. The methodology systematic reviews is specific and precise, which intends to minimize bias by increasing the reliability of the drawn conclusion. The produced results of a systematic review can be summarized either in text or graphic form, and it depends upon the nature of the primary data. As like primary research studies, there are reporting standards systematic reviews as well. The PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analyses), provides a set of regulations on how to report a systematic review. Likewise, for selecting a secondary research question, there are designated formats. A systematic review question typically question with narrow parameters and usually fitted into the PICO question format. One such example is "In people with multiple sclerosis, what is the extent to which a walking intervention, compared to no intervention, improves self-report fatigue?". Based on the specific guidelines, the primary two organization which administer the conducting of a systematic review are the Campbell Collaboration and the Cochrane Collaboration. While the Cochrane Collaboration focuses on the health sciences subject area, the Campbell collaboration works on other areas such as crime and justice, development, education and social welfare. In addition to these organizations, the individual research team can work on systematic review in attempting to answer a research question. used in designed for question through focused research international search criteria with for Copyright © 2020 pubrica. All rights reserved 1

2. Study selection –Need to identify suitable study criteria and collect relevant data for conducting a systematic review. Assess the quality of studies – It helps in identifying the risk of bias in secondary research Synthesize study results - Upon similarity on the included data, the author must determine the effectiveness intervention using meta-analysis. Whereas the study is not much similar, the author can provide a narrative analysis by describing the initial results. Analysis and limitations– The review should discuss the addressed area of study, the findings, and how the review results change the existing limitations. Different types of reviews: There are many types of reviews addressing questions of effectiveness, questions about the diagnostic accuracy, Different types of reviews include, Literature Review Meta-analysis Rapid review Scoping review Systematic review Systematized review Umbrella review II. WHAT MAKES AN EXCELLENT SYSTEMATIC REVIEW? A good systematic review will include, A focused question Inclusion/exclusion criteria Search strategy Study selection Assess the quality of studies Synthesize study results Analysis and limitations A focused question - a systematic review is a research method used to address a specific research question and formulating a well-constructed research question is essential for a successful review. Inclusion/exclusion criteria –It studies the writers included or excluded and the reason. For instance, the most reliable method for conducting a review through randomized studies whereas for including or excluding studies, the author needs a logical reason. Search strategy –The reviewer must explain the methods used for finding relevant studies which include published and unpublished clinical trial reports, online database search, as well as approaching experts unpublished data. of an prevalence and of prognosis. in finding III. DIFFERENCES BETWEEN SYSTEMATIC AND LITERATURE REVIEWS Key section Question Systematic review Mainly focused on one question Literature review It describes an overview and not based on a single question It has no protocol Protocol It protocol or plan Both the review presents the summaries of the available literature on a topic Study-specific objectives are identified There are specific criteria to be stated before the review is conducted A systematic search will be The search strategy will not follows peer review Background Objectives No such objectives will be identified Not mandatorily specified Inclusion criteria and exclusion Search strategy Copyright © 2020 pubrica. All rights reserved 2

3. conducted Clear and explicit A comprehensive evaluation of the study as it mainly used in guidelines Research question specific information extraction be mentioned Process of selecting articles Process of articles Not described Evaluation of study quality may not be included evaluating formulating Process relevant information of extracting Extracting information is not specific to a single question Overview based on reviews where the quality of articles may not be specified. relevant Results and data synthesis Clear summaries of studies will be provided based on evidence An expert or group of professionals write them with a well- grounded knowledge of the issues. Reproduced from: Learning how to undertake a systematic review: part 1 DOI: 10.7748/ns2010.08.24.50.47.c7939 Discussion In summary, a systematic review is a search of all sources of evidence for relevant studies or on research question specific study. Predetermined reproducible criteria to screen for eligibility and relevance assessment of titles and the abstracts will be followed. Each study will then be assessed methodological quality, and finally, the evidence is synthesized. REFERENCE 1. Bettany-Saltikov, J & Fernandes, T 2010, 'Learning how to undertake a systematic review: Part 1', Nursing Standard (through 2013), vol. 24, no. 50, pp. 47-55 2. https://www.spi.ox.ac.uk/what-makes-a-good- systematic-review 3. The Systematic Review: An Overview American Journal of Nursing: March 2014 - Volume 114 - Issue 3 - 10.1097/01.NAJ.0000444496.24228.2c 4. WilsonV. (2013). Research Methods: Systematic Reviews. Evidence-Based Library and Information Practice, 8(3), https://doi.org/10.18438/B8CP5Z 5. What is a systematic review? Jane Clarke Evid Based Nurs http://dx.doi.org/10.1136/ebn.2011.0049 6. https://libraryguides.mcgill.ca/knowledge- syntheses/question in terms of p 53-58. DOI: 83-84. 2011 14: 64 Copyright © 2020 pubrica. All rights reserved 3