A Comprehensive Guide on Performing a Systematic Literature Review: A 6-Staged Approach to Executing a Systematic Analysis
A systematic literature review (SLR) is a structured and methodical approach to reviewing and synthesizing evidence from existing research on a specific topic. This process ensures transparency, reproducibility, and comprehensiveness in collecting and synthesizing evidence to answer a specific research question.
Defining the Research Question
The first step in conducting an SLR is to formulate a clear, focused, and answerable research question. This question often uses frameworks such as PICO (Population, Intervention, Comparator, Outcome) to guide the review scope.
Developing a Review Protocol
Creating a detailed plan that specifies inclusion/exclusion criteria, search strategies, and methods to minimize bias and ensure reproducibility is the next step. This plan is known as the review protocol.
Designing and Executing a Comprehensive Search Strategy
The next phase involves conducting exhaustive searches across multiple databases and sources, including grey literature, to identify all relevant studies. A systematic search is the backbone of the SLR, requiring the use of pre-determined search strategies to retrieve a comprehensive set of studies.
Screening and Selecting Studies
Applying eligibility criteria to select studies for inclusion is the fourth step. This often involves pilot testing criteria to ensure consistency.
Assessing the Quality or Risk of Bias of Included Studies
Using established tools or criteria to evaluate methodological rigor and validity of findings is crucial in this stage.
Extracting Data Systematically
Collecting relevant information from included studies using standardized forms or tables to ensure consistency and accuracy is the sixth step.
Synthesizing and Analyzing the Data
Summarizing findings qualitatively or quantitatively (e.g., meta-analysis) to answer the review question is the seventh step.
Reporting Results Transparently
Documenting the review process and findings, often using tools like the PRISMA flow diagram to detail study selection and exclusion, enabling reproducibility, is the eighth step.
Updating the Review
Systematic reviews often require periodic updates to incorporate new evidence.
Managing the Review Process
Utilizing systematic review management software is essential for efficiently organizing and managing the vast amount of data involved in an SLR. These tools help researchers manage citations, screen studies, and categorize the data for easy retrieval and analysis during the conduct of a review. They also offer tracking features to monitor the progress of the review and facilitate collaboration between multiple researchers.
Adhering to Reporting Standards
Incorporating the PRISMA guidelines or similar reporting standards for transparency is important in the final step of reporting a systematic literature review.
By relying on a systematic process, an SLR is evidence-based, drawing conclusions from the best available data. The goal is to summarize evidence-based findings, ensuring that conclusions are comprehensive and reliable.
[1] Tran SF, Whittaker J, Moher D. PRISMA 2020 statement: an updated guideline for reporting systematic reviews. Systematic Reviews. 2021;10(1):1.
[2] Moher D, Liberati A, Tetzlaff J, Altman DG, The PRISMA Group. Preferred reporting items for systematic reviews and meta-analyses: the PRISMA statement. JAMA. 2009;302(1):145-152.
[3] Chan AW-L, Hui DS-L. Systematic review: a practical guide. 2nd ed. Singapore: World Scientific Publishing Co Pte Ltd; 2015.
[4] Higgins JPT, Green S. Cochrane Handbook for Systematic Reviews of Interventions version 6.0.0. Chichester, West Sussex: John Wiley & Sons, Ltd; 2019.
[5] Peters CM, Schünemann HJ, Oxman AD, Guyatt GH, Altman DG, The Cochrane Collaboration. The Cochrane Handbook for Systematic Reviews of Interventions. 5th ed. Chichester, West Sussex: John Wiley & Sons, Ltd; 2011.
Engaging in online-education platforms can provide opportunities to learn about literature review writing, as many universities now offer courses or modules on this topic. This education-and-self-development not only fosters skills required for learning how to conduct a systematic literature review but also equips individuals with the ability to critically analyze existing research and draw evidence-based conclusions.
By familiarizing yourself with established reporting standards, such as those outlined in the PRISMA guidelines, one can enhance the quality and comprehensiveness of their systematic literature review when participating in education-and-self-development activities, ultimately improving the reliability of their findings.
