LibGuides: Systematic Reviews: Educational Resources

Research Nexus Talk on Literature Reviews

Presentation Slides

Articles

Does the inclusion of grey literature influence estimates of intervention effectiveness reported in meta-analyses?
The exclusion of grey literature from meta-analyses can lead to exaggerated estimates of intervention effectiveness. In general, meta-analysts should attempt to identify, retrieve, and include all reports, grey and published, that meet predefined inclusion criteria

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McAuley, L., Pham, B., Tugwell, P., & Moher, D. (2000). Does the inclusion of grey literature influence estimates of intervention effectiveness reported in meta-analyses? Lancet, 356(9237), 1228. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(00)02786-0
How to carry out a literature search for a systematic review: a practical guide
This article is intended for clinicians and researchers who are approaching the field of evidence synthesis and would like to perform a literature search

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Atkinson, L. Z., & Cipriani, A. (2018). How to carry out a literature search for a systematic review: A practical guide. BJPsych Advances, 24(2), 74–82. https://doi.org/10.1192/bja.2017.3
Learning how to undertake a systematic review: part 1
This article, the first of two, provides an overview of the processes involved in writing a systematic review. The article describes the differences between a systematic and a literature review, how to write an answerable review question and how to prepare the background for the review. The second of the two articles will focus on search strategy and the presentation of data.

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J, B.-S. (2010). Learning how to undertake a systematic review: part 1. Nursing Standard, 24(50), 47–55.
Learning how to undertake a systematic review: part 2
This article, the second in a two-part series, continues to describe the stages involved in conducting a systematic review. The article discusses how to select and appraise studies for inclusion in the review, and how to extract, synthesise and present the findings. A summary of the key points for writing the results and discussion sections of a report of a systematic review is also presented.

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Josette, B.-S. (2010). Learning how to undertake a systematic review: part 2. Nursing Standard, 24(51), 47–56.
Mentorship in Medical Residency Education: Anatomy of a Systematic Review
In this case study, we describe best practices for organizing, conducting, and reporting systematic reviews; discuss how these were implemented in the context of our review; and outline some of our team’s key learnings.

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Lorenzetti, D. L., Pethrick, H., Nowell, L., Lorenzetti, L., Jacobsen, M., & Oddone-Paolucci, E. (2020). Mentorship in medical residency education: Anatomy of a systematic review. SAGE Research Methods Cases. doi:10.4135/9781529714180
PRESS Peer Review of Electronic Search Strategies: 2015 Guideline Statement
The PRESS guideline provides a set of recommendations concerning the information that should be used by librarians and other information specialists when they are asked to evaluate these electronic search strategies.

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McGowan, J., Sampson, M., Salzwedel, D. M., Cogo, E., Foerster, V., & Lefebvre, C. (2016). PRESS Peer Review of Electronic Search Strategies: 2015 Guideline Statement. Journal of Clinical Epidemiology, 75, 40–46. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclinepi.2016.01.021
The PRISMA Statement for Reporting Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses of Studies That Evaluate Health Care Interventions: Explanation and Elaboration
In this Explanation and Elaboration document, we explain the meaning and rationale for each checklist item. For each item, we include an example of good reporting and, where possible, references to relevant empirical studies and methodological literature.

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Liberati, A., Altman, D. G., Tetzlaff, J., Mulrow, C., Gøtzsche, P. C., Ioannidis, J. P. A., Clarke, M., Devereaux, P. J., Kleijnen, J., & Moher, D. (2009). The PRISMA statement for reporting systematic reviews and meta-analyses of studies that evaluate health care interventions: explanation and elaboration. Journal of Clinical Epidemiology, 62(10), e1–e34. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclinepi.2009.06.006
PROTOCOL: The methodological and reporting characteristics of Campbell reviews: a methodological systematic review
A comprehensive review of the methods and reporting of Campbell reviews.

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The Campbell Collaboration is an international network that supports the preparation and
dissemination of high quality systematic reviews of research evidence on the effectiveness of
social programs, policies, and practices.
Selecting Studies for Systematic Review: Inclusion and Exclusion Criteria
The development of inclusion/exclusion criteria is discussed, and steps in the study selection process are followed from initial evaluation to the final acceptance of studies for systematic review.

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Meline T. (2006). Selecting studies for systematic review: inclusion and exclusion criteria. Contemporary Issues in Communication Science & Disorders, 33, 21–27.
A step by step guide for conducting a systematic review and meta-analysis with simulation data
This methodology study aimed to provide a step-by-step approach mainly for beginners and junior researchers, in the field of tropical medicine and other health care fields, on how to properly conduct a SR/MA, in which all the steps here depicts our experience and expertise combined with the already well-known and accepted international guidance.

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Tawfik, G. M., Dila, K. A. S., Mohamed, M. Y. F., Tam, D. N. H., Kien, N. D., Ahmed, A. M., & Huy, N. T. (2019). A step by step guide for conducting a systematic review and meta-analysis with simulation data. Tropical Medicine and Health, 47, 46. https://doi.org/10.1186/s41182-019-0165-6
Systematic reviews from astronomy to zoology: myths and misconceptions.
Focuses on the use of systematic literature reviews in decision making processes by researchers in numerous fields. Application of such reviews to evidence-based medicine and specifically to randomized, controlled clinical trials; Reasons that such reviews possess a greater applicability than many researchers realize; Perceived limitations of such reviews and why they are fallacious.

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Petticrew, M. (2001). Systematic reviews from astronomy to zoology: myths and misconceptions. BMJ: British Medical Journal (International Edition), 322(7278), 98. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.322.7278.98
A typology of reviews: an analysis of 14 review types and associated methodologies.
The expansion of evidence-based practice across sectors has lead to an increasing variety of review types. However, the diversity of terminology used means that the full potential of these review types may be lost amongst a confusion of indistinct and misapplied terms. The objective of this study is to provide descriptive insight into the most common types of reviews, with illustrative examples from health and health information domains.

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Grant, M. J. and Booth, A. (2009), A typology of reviews: an analysis of 14 review types and associated methodologies. Health Information & Libraries Journal, 26: 91–108. doi:10.1111/j.1471-1842.2009.00848.x
Why prospective registration of systematic reviews makes sense.
Prospective registration of systematic reviews promotes transparency, helps reduce potential for bias and serves to avoid unintended duplication of reviews. Registration offers advantages to many stakeholders in return for modest additional effort from the researchers registering their reviews.

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Stewart, L., Moher, D., & Shekelle, P. (2012). Why prospective registration of systematic reviews makes sense. Systematic Reviews, 1, 7. https://doi.org/10.1186/2046-4053-1-7

eBooks

Cochrane Handbook for Systematic Reviews of Interventions
The official guide that describes in detail the process of preparing and maintaining Cochrane systematic reviews on the effects of healthcare interventions. All authors should consult the Handbook for guidance on the methods used in Cochrane systematic reviews.

Conducting systematic reviews in sport, exercise, and physical activity by David Tod
ISBN: 9783030122638
Publication Date: 2019
Systematic Reviews by Carole Torgerson
ISBN: 9780826465801
Publication Date: 2003
Systematic Reviews in Educational Research Methodology, Perspectives and Application by Olaf Zawacki-Richter, Michael Kerres, Svenja Bedenlier, Melissa Bond, Katja Buntins
ISBN: 9783658276027
Publication Date: 2020
Systematic Reviews in Health Care: a Practical Guide by Paul Glasziou
ISBN: 9781280162220
Publication Date: 2001
Systematic Reviews in the Social Sciences by Mark Petticrew; Helen Roberts
ISBN: 9781280237904
Publication Date: 2006
eBook
Systematic Reviews to Answer Health Care Questions by Heidi D. Nelson
ISBN: 9781451187717
Publication Date: 2014
Understanding Clinical Papers by David Owens; Bridgette Bewick; David Bowers; Allan House
ISBN: 9781119573142
Publication Date: 2021
4th edition eBook

Images & Videos

Existing methods for systematic reviews follow these steps with some variations. Not all systematic reviews follow all steps. This process typically takes between 12 and 24 months.

Tsafnet, G., Glasziou, P., Choong, M.K., et al. Systematic review automation technologies. Systematic Reviews 2014; 3:74; http://www.systematicreviewsjournal.com/content/3/1/74.

Licensed under Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International (CC BY-NC 4.0). Retrieved from the Cochrane Consumers and Communication Group Infographics page.

One Database at at Time: PubMed for Expert Searchers and Systematic Reviews
A webinar focusing on expert searching of PubMed.
Recorded workshops and seminars on systematic reviews
Campbell's YouTube channel contains a broad collection of video recordings that explain Campbell methods to authors, whether beginners in evidence synthesis or experienced systematic reviewers.
SR Tool Box
The Systematic Review Toolbox is a web-based catalogue of tools that support various tasks within the systematic review and wider evidence synthesis process.
Systematic Searches Tutorial Videos
A series of videos on conducting a systematic review, from the Harvey Cushing/John Hay Whitney Medical Library.

Search hedges

Search hedges are pre-made search strategies for searching common topics, often publication types or study designs. They are combined with a general topic search to refine your results.

BMJ Clinical Evidence Study design search strings
Includes strategies for Systematic Reviews, Randomized Controlled Trials, Cohort Studies, etc. All filters are written for OVID MEDLINE and Embase.
Children Search Filter
The filters are intended as a starting point. Be strict in the selection of search terms for your own search strategy. The relevancy of search terms will always depend on context.
Cochrane's Randomized Trial Search Strategy
The Cochrane Highly Sensitive Search Strategies for identifying randomized trials in PubMed.
The ISSG Search Filter Resource
The InterTASC Information Specialists' Sub-Group Search Filter Resource is a collaborative venture to identify, assess and test search filters designed to retrieve research by study design or focus. The Search Filters Resource aims to provide easy access to published and unpublished search filters.
PubMed Search Strings
This blog has been created to share PubMed search strategies. Search strategies posted here are not perfect. They are posted in the hope that others will benefit from the work already put into their creation and/or will offer suggestions for improvements.
Search Strategies from the Candian Health Libraries Association
A large collection of search strategies. The website is in French, but the strategies are in English.
Strings Attached: CADTH's Database Search Filters
A sample of search filters developed and maintained by CADTH’s Information Services Filters Working Group. These filters have been extensively tested by the Information Services Team and are routinely used in CADTH projects; however, they have not been validated against a gold standard set of articles.

Translation Services for Systematic Reviews

American Translators Association
A site to search for original and target language professional translators.
DeepL Translator
An AI backed translator with free and paid features. The free version does have limitations on characters, volume, editing, file size of 5 MB, and a glossary.
Google Translate
A free translation AI tool, with a limit of 5,000 words per translation.