Top Resources
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Cochrane Handbook of Systematic Reviews (Version 6)The Cochrane Handbook is the official guide that describes in detail the process of preparing and maintaining Cochrane systematic reviews.
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PRISMA StandardsPRISMA is an evidence-based minimum set of items for reporting in systematic reviews and meta-analyses.
Health Sciences Librarian
What is a Systematic Review?
“A systematic review attempts to identify, appraise and synthesize all the empirical evidence that meets pre-specified eligibility criteria to answer a given research question. Researchers conducting systematic reviews use explicit methods aimed at minimizing bias, in order to produce more reliable findings that can be used to inform decision making.” - Cochrane Library
When is a Systematic Review necessary?
Systematic reviews should be done:
- When there is a large body of primary research on a specific research question
- When a transparent search methodology and replicability are needed
- When multiple published studies point to contradictory outcomes
- When an existing systematic review is outdated (consider updating the existing review)
- When no ongoing or existing systematic review addresses your research question. Try searching the following resources for protocols or completed systematic reviews before you get started:
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PROSPEROPROSPERO is an international database of prospectively registered systematic reviews in health and social care, welfare, public health, education, crime, justice, and international development, where there is a health related outcome.
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Joanna Briggs Institute Systematic Review RegisterTitles and main points of systematic reviews registered with the international Joanna Briggs Institute.
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The Campbell LibraryThe Campbell Collaboration is an international network which publishes high quality systematic reviews of social and economic interventions around the world.
Is a Systematic Review the right type of review for my research project?
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Grant, M. J., & Booth, A. (2009). A typology of reviews: an analysis of 14 review types and associated methodologies. Health Information & Libraries Journal, 26(2), 91-108.Includes a helpful chart that compares 14 different types of reviews.
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Tool: What Review is Right for You?There are many types of reviews, and choosing the right one can be tricky. The following questions will help you determine which types of review might be suitable for your project. This tool was developed by librarians at the University of Manitoba Libraries.
What resources are needed to complete a Systematic Review?
Time: The length of time needed to complete a systematic review ranges from 6 months to 2 years, with an average mean project length of 67.3 weeks (Khangura et al., 2012; Borah et al., 2017)
Teamwork: A systematic review cannot be done alone. Results must be screened and appraised by a minimum of two reviewers, ideally with a third available to settle any disagreements.
Tools: Access to a citation management tool with sharing capabilities (i.e. EndNote).
What is the timeline for completing a Systematic Review?
Systematic reviews require a lot of time and effort to complete; a reasonable time frame is rarely under one year. The Cochrane Handbook for Systematic Reviews of Interventions suggests the following timeline to complete a Cochrane Review:
| Month | Activity |
| 1 - 2 | Preparation of protocol |
| 3 - 8 | Searches for published & unpublished studies |
| 2 - 3 | Pilot test of eligibility criteria |
| 3 - 8 | Inclusion assessments |
| 3 | Pilot test of 'Risk of bias' assessment |
| 3 - 10 | Validity assessments |
| 3 | Pilot test of data collection |
| 3 - 10 | Data collection |
| 3 - 10 | Data entry |
| 5 - 11 | Follow up of missing information |
| 8 - 10 | Analysis |
| 1 - 11 | Preparation of review report |
| 12 - | Keeping the review up to date |
Creative Commons License
This guide was created by Ontario Tech Libraries and is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution International 4.0 License, except where otherwise noted.
