Systematic Reviews Basics

What is a systematic review?

The Community Preventive Services Task Force (CPSTF) defines a systematic review as a review of scientific studies on a specific topic. It uses a formal process to:

  • Identify all relevant studies
  • Assess their quality
  • Summarize the evidence

The methods used in a systematic review must be reproducible and transparent. 

References

  • Community Preventive Services Task Force (CPSTF) https://www.thecommunityguide.org/about/our-methodology
  • Moher, D., Liberati, A., Tetzlaff, J., Altman, D. G., The PRISMA Group. (2009). Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses: The PRISMA Statement. PLOS Medicine 6(7) e1000097