Question and Answer

What should I do before beginning a systematic review?

  1. Search databases and registries to see if anyone is planning or has published a systematic review on the same topic you are planning.
     
  2. Assemble a team of at least three people, including subject experts and experienced members of systematic review teams.
     
  3. Write a protocol or road map of your systematic review topic and process for collecting, screening, analyzing and extracting data, and synthesizing the final set of results. The protocol will also include a list of databases that will be searched, a tested search strategy and plan for quality appraisal. Plan to register your protocol.
     
  4. Draft a timeline for your process to help the systematic review team stay on track.

Learn more

Systematic Review & Evidence Synthesis Information Guide

See also

Related FAQs

    Frequently Asked Questions