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Faculty of Health and Environmental Sciences: Systematic Review

Welcome to Bloemfontein Campus

What is a Systematic Review

An analysis of a clearly formulated question that uses systematic and explicit methods to identify, select, and critically appraise relevant research, and to collect and analyse data from the studies that are included in the review. (The Cochrane Collaboration, 2005).

Comprehensive Literature Search

The goal of a systematic review search is to maximize recall and precision while keeping results manageable. A recall is defined as the number of relevant reports identified divided by the total number of relevant reports in existence. Precision is defined as the number of relevant reports identified divided by the total number of reports identified. 

When a general topic is proposed, it is tempting to begin by extensively searching for primary literature. Before performing the extensive literature search, it is crucial to understand the topic, devise an analytic framework, ask clearly defined key questions, and understand the scope of the review to be conducted.

  • Identify systematic reviews that may address your key questions.
  • Identify appropriate databases and
  • Conduct comprehensive and detailed literature searches that can be documented and duplicated.

Getting help

Your Faculty Librarian (Ms Pelisa Vanda) can give advice on some of the steps in the process, such as choosing where to search (step 2), developing a search strategy (step 3), running & recording your search (step 4) and managing your search results (step 5). Refer to your supervisor for help with developing your protocol, evaluating the studies and writing up the review.

Issues to consider when creating a Systematic Review Search:

  • All concepts are included in the strategy
  • All appropriate subject headings are used
  • Appropriate use of subheadings and floating subheadings
  • Use of natural language (text words) in addition to controlled vocabulary terms
  • Use of appropriate synonyms, acronyms, etc.
  • Truncation and spelling variation as appropriate
  • Appropriate use of limits such as language, years, etc.
  • Boolean operators (AND, OR, NOT) are used appropriatelly.
  • Develop a search strategy for multiple databases
  • Search as many databases as you can

Systematic Review Process Overview

Reporting Search Strategies: Transparency

Accurate and transparent reporting of search strategies is important.
•Searches need to be updated toward the conclusion of a systematic review to ensure that no new information has come out in the intervening period.
•Stakeholders and end-users want assurances that the systematic review was free of bias and that adequate search principles were followed.
•Searches will need to be re-run if the systematic review is updated several years after it is completed.
•Documenting the search strategy so that a skilled literature searcher can reproduce.

CUT Electronic Databases