Systematic reviews are a type of literature review that uses a rigorous and transparent methodology to identify, appraise, and synthesize all relevant studies on a specific topic. They are an essential tool for evidence-based practice, as they provide a comprehensive and reliable overview of the available evidence. Key characteristics of a systematic review include a clearly defined question with inclusion and exclusion criteria, a rigorous and systematic search of the literature, critical appraisal of included studies, data extraction and management, analysis and interpretation of results, and a report for publication. One of the key steps in conducting a systematic review is extracting study characteristics from the included studies. This involves systematically collecting data from each study on a range of factors, such as the study design, participants, interventions, and outcomes. This information is then used to synthesize the findings of the review and draw conclusions about the effectiveness of interventions or the prevalence of a condition.
A systematic and extensive search is conducted to identify all relevant published and unpublished literature. It is crucial to document the search strategy, including the databases searched, the search terms used, and the time frame of the search. This documentation ensures transparency and allows others to replicate the search.
| Study Characteristic | Description |
|---|---|
| Study design | This includes the type of study (e.g., randomized controlled trial, cohort study, case-control study), the methods used to collect data, and the study setting. It also includes information related to the design and methods of the research study, such as the use of randomization and allocation concealment in RCTs. |
| Risk of bias | This refers to the potential for systematic errors in the study design or conduct that could lead to misleading results. |
| Participant characteristics | This includes information about the participants in the study, such as their age, sex, ethnicity, and any relevant medical conditions. |
| Interventions | This includes information about the interventions being studied, such as the type of intervention, the dosage, and the duration. |
| Outcomes | This includes information about the outcomes that were measured in the study, such as the primary and secondary outcomes, and the time points at which they were measured. |
In addition to these core characteristics, systematic reviews may also extract data on other factors, such as the funding source of the study, the country in which the study was conducted, and the publication date 3.