Skip to Main Content

Systematic and Other Reviews: Module summary

This guide contains information about systematic reviews and links to resources to help you conduct one.

You've completed this module

 

Congratulations! With the upload of your results into screening software, you've completed all the stages covered by this module.

Here's a summary with key actions noted next to each section of this course. You can review any section you like.

Section Key Actions
What is a Systematic Review
  • Select review type and manual
Forming a Research Question
  • Select synthesis type and mnemonic
Preparing a Protocol
  • Write and lodge protocol
Forming the Search Strategy
  • Develop a search strategy using keywords, subject headings, truncation, Boolean logic and filters
Database Search Translation
  • Translate search strategy to other databases
Testing and Evaluating Search Design
  • Test strategy with results method and pearl article method
Search Reporting and Write-Up
  • Report search strategy and prepare example for inclusion in review
Exporting from databases and deduplicating results
  • Export all databases into Endnote
  • Deduplicate Results
  • Export to xml for Covidence
Hand Searching
  • Choose hand searching methods and execute
Grey Literature
  • Optional: Select grey literature sources and search
Screening
  • Complete first and second screenings with additional reviewers

What now?

 

In the first section of this course, we covered the ten steps of a systematic review. This beginner's course covered steps 1-6:

  1. Define a question
  2. Write a protocol
  3. Design the search
  4. Run the search
  5. Export articles and deduplicate
  6. Screening
  7. Data extraction
  8. Study appraisal
  9. Interpret and synthesise
  10. Report

Luckily, steps 7-1 of a systematic review are explained in multiple books and guides, a few of which we have included below. You can also consult with your supervisor for one-on-one assistance.

Systematic Review roadmap and where to get help

 

Guides and Manuals

 

⚠️ I'm stuck!

I need help!

If your question relates to Steps 1-6, you can submit a question to UTS Library. This will go to the health librarians team who will get back to you shortly. 

 

✅ Congratulations!

  • You have finished this module! Good luck with your review.