Instructions for Conducting Literature Reviews
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Systematic literature reviews (SLRs) are a crucial component in the world of healthcare and social sciences, serving as a beacon for identifying evidence gaps and informing policy decisions. These structured, organized, and transparent processes provide high-quality evidence that significantly impacts clinical practice, political decisions, and further research.
In this article, we delve into the specific steps for conducting a systematic literature review, highlighting the rigour, methodology, and goals that set SLRs apart from other types of reviews.
Defining the Research Question
The journey begins with a clear, focused research question, formulated using a structured framework such as PICO (Patient, Intervention, Comparison, Outcome) or others tailored to the topic at hand. This process may involve preliminary scoping searches to refine the question.
Developing a Detailed Protocol
A comprehensive protocol outlines the review plan, specifying the research question, search strategy and databases to be used, eligibility criteria for study inclusion/exclusion, the screening process, critical appraisal/risk of bias assessment tools, and the methods for data extraction, analysis, and synthesis. Publishing or registering the protocol is recommended for transparency and rigour.
Conducting a Comprehensive Literature Search
A thorough literature search is conducted across multiple databases, including both published and grey literature as applicable. The search strategy is designed meticulously, employing appropriate keywords, subject headings, and Boolean operators to capture all relevant studies.
Screening and Selection of Studies
The search results are screened for relevance and eligibility in two stages: first by title and abstract, then by full text. This process is carried out independently by at least two reviewers to minimise bias, with disagreements resolved by a third reviewer.
Critical Appraisal of Included Studies
Included studies are assessed for quality and risk of bias using standardized tools. This process is conducted with at least two independent reviewers to ensure reliability.
Systematic Data Extraction
Relevant data is extracted systematically from the included studies, based on the protocol. This includes study characteristics, results, and quality indicators.
Analysis and Synthesis of Data
The extracted data is analysed and synthesised appropriately, often involving qualitative thematic synthesis, quantitative meta-analysis, or both, depending on the data type and review objectives. The synthesis aims to integrate findings to answer the research question comprehensively.
Preparing the Systematic Review Report
The systematic review report is prepared, addressing the research question, methodology, results, discussion, and limitations. The report also outlines plans to keep the review up-to-date if ongoing relevance is anticipated.
The Importance of SLRs
SLRs are indispensable in healthcare and social sciences as they help identify evidence gaps and inform policy. They critically evaluate the quality of included studies and employ systematic search strategies to capture multiple databases and grey literature sources. SLRs are frequently used in evidence-based research and practice, particularly in environmental science, health care, and social sciences.
Key themes and patterns are identified and synthesised across studies through a meta-synthesis. Reproducibility and transparency are hallmarks of SLRs, with detailed documentation and adherence to strict guidelines like PRISMA.
SLRs aim to capture all relevant studies on a specific topic, providing a comprehensive textual summary and synthesis of existing research. Collaborating with a librarian or information specialist is highly beneficial to optimise the search strategy and review process.
In conclusion, SLRs are a time-intensive but indispensable tool for evidence-based research and practice. By following a structured, systematic, and transparent process, SLRs offer high-quality evidence, helping to inform decision-making in various fields.
- In online-education platforms, software designed for systematic literature reviews (SLRs) can streamline the research process, automating steps like defining the research question, developing a detailed protocol, conducting a comprehensive literature search, and screening and selection of studies, enhancing learning experiences for those engaged in education-and-self-development.
- To further my learning, I plan to enroll in an online course focusing on the conduct of systematic literature reviews (SLRs), which will equip me with the skills to identify evidence gaps and inform policy decisions through the production of high-quality, transparent, and rigorous evidence, ultimately leading to improvements in clinical practice.
