Systematic Review

A comprehensive review that identifies and critically evaluates all relevant studies on a topic.

A systematic review follows a rigorous, pre-defined methodology to identify, select, and critically appraise all relevant research on a specific question. Unlike narrative reviews, systematic reviews use explicit search strategies, inclusion/exclusion criteria, and quality assessment tools to minimize bias. When a systematic review includes a meta-analysis, it provides both a qualitative synthesis and quantitative summary of the evidence. Cochrane Reviews are considered the benchmark for systematic reviews in healthcare.