Basics of Systematic Reviews

The final step is to write the paper for your systematic review.  Typically, systematic reviews are split into 6 sections: introduction, abstract, methods, results, discussion, and conclusion.  Referencing established reporting standards enhances transparency and ensures consistency in your review. The following resources can guide your writing process:

Key Steps in Writing Your Review

1. Review Reporting Standards – Ensure compliance with guidelines such as PRISMA to accurately report your systematic review.
2. Gather Essential Documents – Collect your completed data tables, PRISMA chart, and any other relevant materials.
3. Write Write These Section of the Review--
   • Introduction – Introduce the topic and the purpose of your study.
   • Methods – Detail your research process, including data collection and analysis.
   • Results – Present the key findings from your data extraction.
   • Discussion – Interpret your findings and place them in context with existing research.
4. Write the Abstract and Conclusion--Summarize your study in a concise abstract and provide a final synthesis in your conclusion.
5. Compile References Section

If your review includes grey literature (e.g., reports from organizations, conference proceedings, unpublished studies) or hand searches (e.g., citation tracking), document them using the PRISMA 2020 flow diagram. Follow these steps:

1. Complete database search documentation under "Identification of studies via databases and registers."
2. Record grey literature and hand searches under "Identification of studies via other methods."

By following these structured guidelines, you can ensure that your systematic review is comprehensive, well-documented, and ready for dissemination.