Systematic Reviews

	Research study cited in a systematic review.

According to the Cochrane Library, a systematic review identifies an intervention for a specific disease or other problem in health care, and determines whether or not this intervention works. To do this authors locate, appraise and synthesize evidence from as many relevant scientific studies as possible. They summarize conclusions about effectiveness, and provide a unique collation of the known evidence on a given topic, so that others can easily review the primary studies for any intervention.

Systematic reviews differ from other types of review in that they adhere to a strict design in order to make them more comprehensive, thus minimizing the chance of bias, and ensuring their reliability. Rather than reflecting the views of the authors, or being based on a partial selection of the literature, (as is the case with many articles and reviews that are not explicitly systematic), they contain all known references to trials on a particular intervention and a comprehensive summary of the available evidence. The reviews are therefore also valuable sources of information for those receiving care, as well as for decision makers and researchers. Systematic Reviews are not the same as a meta-analysis or a review. See Meta-Analyses and Reviews for more information.

Assessment

Comprehensive review is required to locate systematic reviews.

	Search using the keywords, title or the name of the author/research study.

Some resources that may be helpful include the following:

BMJ Clinical Evidence

BMJ Clinical Evidence systematic reviews summarize the current state of knowledge and uncertainty about the prevention and treatment of clinical conditions, based on thorough searches and appraisal of the literature. It is neither a textbook of medicine nor a set of guidelines. It describes the best available evidence from systematic reviews, RCTs, and observational studies where appropriate, and if there is no good evidence it says so. Check the list of conditions to determine if a systematic review is available.

Cochrane Library

The Cochrane Library consists of a regularly updated collection of evidence-based medicine databases to inform healthcare decision-making. Cochrane provides additional resources such as other systematic reviews, abstracts, technology assessments, economic evaluations, and individual clinical trials.

Two resources from the Cochrane Library that provide systematic reviews are the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews (CDSR) and the Cochrane Database of Abstracts of Reviews of Effects (DARE).

Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews (CDSR)

A systematic review identifies an intervention for a specific disease or other problem in health care, and determines whether or not this intervention works. To do this authors locate, appraise and synthesize evidence from as many relevant scientific studies as possible. They summarize conclusions about effectiveness, and provide a unique collation of the known evidence on a given topic, so that others can easily review the primary studies for any intervention.

From the Cochrane Library main page, there are several options for searching of CDSR: By Topic, New Reviews, Updated Reviews, A-Z, and By Review Group.

Cochrane Library home page

Cochrane Database of Abstracts of Reviews of Effects (DARE)

The Cochrane Database of Abstracts of Reviews of Effects (DARE) is the only database to contain abstracts of systematic reviews that have been quality-assessed. Each abstract includes a summary of the review together with a critical commentary about the overall quality.

The database is a key resource for busy decision makers and can be used for answering questions about the effects of specific interventions, whether such questions arise from practice or when making policy. DARE covers a broad range of health related interventions and includes over 3000 abstracts of reviews in fields as diverse as diagnostic tests, public health, health promotion, pharmacology, surgery, psychology and the organization and delivery of health care.

From the Cochrane Library main page, select Other Reviews to access DARE.

Cochrane Library home page

EMBASE

EMBASE is an abstract and indexing (A&I) biomedical and pharmacological database. It contains over 19 million indexed records from over 7,000 journals (including international titles), covering 1947 to the present.

EMBASE offers a search option for systematic reviews. From the home page, select Advanced Search. Scroll down and select More Limits. Under Evidence Based Medicine, select Systematic Review.

EMBASE Advanced Search option page showing Systematic Review filter

 

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Last updated: April 27, 2009