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Systematic Reviews: What is in a Systematic Review

A Guide to Conducting Systematic Reviews

What is IN a Systematic Review

The parts of a Systematic Review. 

  • Title
  • Abstract
    • This is a plain language summary.
  • Background
    • Objectives
  • Methods
    • Selection Criteria (types of studies, participants, interventions, outcomes)
    • Search Strategy
    • Data Collection and Analysis
    • Quality, risk of bias
  • Results
    • Description of studies
    • risk of bias
    • effects of intervention
  • Discussion
    • Summary of main results
    • Quality of evidence
    • Potential biases in the review
  • Author's Conclusions
    • Implications for practice
    • Implications for research
  • Figures
  • Tables

What is IN a Systematic Review

Title, Abstract, Plain Language Summary, Background, Objectives, Methods including selection criteria (types of studies, participants, interventions, outcomes), -search strategies, - data collection and analysis, -quality, risk of bias. Results including -Description of studies, -risk of bias, -effects of interventions. Discussions including, -summary of main results, - quality of evidence, and -potential biases in the review. Author's conclusions including implications for practice and for research. Figures and Tables

This diagram illustrates what is actually in a published systematic review and gives examples from the relevant parts of a systematic review housed online in The Cochrane Library. It will help you to read or navigate a systematic review.

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