Basics of Systematic Reviews

Screening Process

A major task of SR is identifying studies appropriate for review and then screening those studies to find which should be included in the SR.

  • Lengthiest and most work-intensive piece of SR
  • Critical for a high‐quality systematic review
  • Research questions can transcend disciplinary boundaries and require the use of both disciplinary and cross‐disciplinary databases
  • Searches can easily result in thousands of articles to be screened
  • Abstract screening
    • Allows team to reduce number of full-text screen articles
  • Many fields do not have structured abstract and subject term guidelines
    • Increased potential for bias
  • Multiple screeners
  • Use the available tools & technology
  • Varies greatly from one project to the next