Before commencing a systematic review, you need to perform a preliminary search in PubMed or other related databases to ensure that no existing reviews are published on the same topic. You should also search PROSPERO (International Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews) to check for any similar SR projects. Once you rule out any existing reviews available, you can start planning for your review.
Formulating a Research Question
1. Formulate a Research Question
Cochrane Handbook (Chapter 2): https://training.cochrane.org/handbook/current/chapter-02
What is PICO(T)?
PICO is a tool commonly used in medical and health research to help researchers formulate a question. The difficulty in creating a question is often underestimated and PICO can help us parse out the important keys a good question should contain. This is just a tool, not a rigid structure in which all questions must fit.
P = Patient, Population, and/or Problem
I = Intervention
C = Comparison (not always applicable)
O = Outcome
T = *Type of Study (what study design is most appropriate to answer the question?)
Sometimes you will see PICO TT where the additional T stands for the type of question you are asking which you do need to know to determine the best study design.
*In some PICO(T) models you will see T stand for time. This only works if your question includes a concept of time.
Meta-Analysis
A way of combining data from many different research studies. A meta-analysis is a statistical process that combines the findings from individual studies.
Example:
Deriving consensus on the characteristics of advanced practice nursing: meta-summary of more than 2 decades of research. Hutchinson M. East L. Stasa H. Jackson D.Nursing Research. 63(2):116-28, 2014 Mar-Apr.[Journal Article. Meta-Analysis. Review] UI: 24589642
Systematic Review
A summary of the clinical literature. A systematic review is a critical assessment and evaluation of all research studies that address a particular clinical issue. The researchers use an organized method of locating, assembling, and evaluating a body of literature on a particular topic using a set of specific criteria. A systematic review typically includes a description of the findings of the collection of research studies. The systematic review may also include a quantitative pooling of data, called a meta-analysis.
Example:
A systematic review of the effectiveness of advanced practice nurses in long-term care. Donald F. Martin-Misener R. Carter N. Donald EE. Kaasalainen S. Wickson-Griffiths A. Lloyd M. Akhtar-Danesh N. DiCenso A. Journal of Advanced Nursing. 69(10):2148-61, 2013 Oct.[Journal Article. Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't. Review] UI: 23527481
Randomized Controlled Trial
A controlled clinical trial that randomly (by chance) assigns participants to two or more groups. There are various methods to randomize study participants to their groups.
Example:
Assessment of proprioceptive exercises in the treatment of rotator cuff disorders in nursing professionals: a randomized controlled clinical trial. Martins LV. Marziale MH.Revista Brasileira de Fisioterapia. 16(6):502-9, 2012 Nov-Dec.[Comparative Study. Journal Article. Randomized Controlled Trial] UI: 23117648
Cohort Study (Prospective Observational Study)
A clinical research study in which people who presently have a certain condition or receive a particular treatment are followed over time and compared with another group of people who are not affected by the condition.
Example:
Central venous catheter placement by advanced practice nurses demonstrates low procedural complication and infection rates--a report from 13 years of service*. Alexandrou E. Spencer TR. Frost SA. Mifflin N. Davidson PM. Hillman KM. Critical Care Medicine. 42(3):536-43, 2014 Mar. [Journal Article. Observational Study] UI: 24145843
Case-control Study
Case-control studies begin with the outcomes and do not follow people over time. Researchers choose people with a particular result (the cases) and interview the groups or check their records to ascertain what different experiences they had. They compare the odds of having an experience with the outcome to the odds of having an experience without the outcome.
Example:
Nonuse of bicycle helmets and risk of fatal head injury: a proportional mortality, case-control study. Persaud N. Coleman E. Zwolakowski D. Lauwers B. Cass D. CMAJ Canadian Medical Association Journal. 184(17):E921-3, 2012 Nov 20. [Journal Article. Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't] UI: 23071369
Cross-sectional study
The observation of a defined population at a single point in time or time interval. Exposure and outcome are determined simultaneously.
Example:
Fasting might not be necessary before lipid screening: a nationally representative cross-sectional study. Steiner MJ. Skinner AC. Perrin EM. Pediatrics. 128(3):463-70, 2011 Sep.[Journal Article. Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural] UI: 21807697
Case Reports and Series
A report on a series of patients with an outcome of interest. No control group is involved.
Example:
A case study of pediatric pneumonia with empyema. Waldrep VB. Sloand E. Journal of Pediatric Nursing. 28(2):167-70, 2013 Apr. [Case Reports. Journal Article] UI: 22771429
Ideas, Editorials, Opinions
Put forth by experts in the field.
Example:
Preparing for leadership. Newland J.Nurse Practitioner. 39(2):6, 2014 Feb 15.[Editorial] UI: 24407246
Animal Research Studies
Studies conducted using animal subjects.
Example:
Perfusion defatting at subnormothermic temperatures in steatotic rat livers. Liu Q. Berendsen T. Izamis ML. Uygun B. Yarmush ML. Uygun K. Transplantation Proceedings. 45(9):3209-13, 2013 Nov. [Journal Article. Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural. Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't] UI: 2418278
Test-tube Lab Research
"Test tube" experiments conducted in a controlled laboratory setting.