Preparing for your systematic review

This article is aimed at staff who will be attending a library training session to help with a systematic review as part of a qualification that they are undertaking.

It may also be of interest to those who are embarking on a systematic review for other purposes.

Note - our Systematic Review Charter, outlining all the support available from the Library Network, is available here.

Systematic review for NHSGGC research or service improvement

If you are an NHSGGC team or individual wishing to undertake a systematic review, you can submit a project support request via QUEST and a member of library staff will be in touch to discuss your needs.

Systematic review as part of a FE/HE qualification

We recommend the following preparation if you request training to help you do a systematic review as part of a qualification you’re undertaking:

Basic steps

If your institution offers systematic review or literature search training as part of your course – lectures, workshops or online modules – we strongly advise that you attend or view those first, before booking training with NHSGGC Library Network.  This is so that you receive initial training tailored to your course requirements.  You will then be better informed as to what further help you might need from NHSGGC Library staff. 

• Glasgow University Library Literature search and review in MVLS

Ahead of a literature search training session with NHSGCC Library staff, you should:

• Register for Athens/check your existing account/bring your details to the session - click here for more help
• Formulate an answerable question using PICO or similar - click here for more help

Systematic review specific steps

These are things for you to consider before you attend training.  Some of them are best discussed with your review supervisor.

• Get an overview of the process:
  • What guidance for the review process/format does your institution provide?
  • Cochrane Handbook for Systematic Reviews of Interventions
  • Understand PRISMA
    
    
• Does a review on your topic already exist?
  • Carry out basic database searches
  • Search Prospero: a register of current and completed reviews to identify ongoing work
  • Epistemonikos/Campbell Collaboration: searchable databases of completed reviews
  • If yes, when was it published - could you update it?
    
    
• Preparing to search
  • What databases have other systematic reviews in your subject area used?
  • Are there key journals or key authors for your topic that you should look out for?
  • What databases are available to you via NHS and via your institution?
  • Does your institution expect you to search particular kinds of sources: e.g. grey literature; contacting key authors; Google Scholar; or hand searching? Best to find this out in advance so that you can factor it into your search process.
  • Have you identified any useful articles already? What keywords are used within them to describe your topic?
  • Have you thought about how you’ll manage and organise your references?