Systematic reviews: Home

Library staff familiar with co-authoring systematic reviews have developed the following resources based on questions that they are regularly asked. These resources have a practical basis and do not replace any formal guidelines.

OVERVIEW

• What is a systematic review?
• Systematic reviews: a practical approach (video and handout) 

PLAN

• Develop and refine your question 
• Gather your review team
• Decide which guidelines to follow
• Write and register a Protocol

INFORMATION SOURCES

• Bibliographic databases
• Trial registers
• Other sources

HOW TO SEARCH

• Medline (Ovid) - search this first! 
• Embase (Ovid)
• Emcare (Ovid)
• APA PsycInfo (Ovid)
• CINAHL (EBSCOhost)
• Cochrane Library (Wiley)
• Explore search terms for a thorough strategy - text mining
• Translate search strategies to other databases - Polyglot Search Translator
• Record your search methodology
• Database years of coverage

DEDUPE

• Remove duplicate search results using EndNote

SCREEN

• Screen on title and abstract in Covidence
• Find and upload full text PDFs to Covidence using EndNote

EXTRACT

• Extract data from included studies

ASSESS

• Assess risk of bias and study quality

TOOLS

• Covidence systematic review software
• EndNote bibliographic management software
• Polyglot Search Translator
• Text mining tools

Webinar presentation by Helen Wilding, Senior Research Librarian at St Vincent's Hospital Melbourne, 30 July 2020. Presented as part of the Nursing Research Institute webinar series in collaboration with St Vincent’s Health Network Sydney, St Vincent’s Hospital, Melbourne & Australian Catholic University.

In addition to significant online resources, SVHM staff are eligible for a number of other library services, including individual tutorials, consultations and access to licensed software. In some cases there is also an option to apply for a librarian co-author.

Individual tutorials and consultations (SVHM staff only)

• Search tutorial - learn to search Ovid Medline with a topic of your choice (1 hour)
• EndNote tutorial - learn to manage your references, cite as you write and more (1 hour)
• Brief consultations - limited, brief advice on systematic review processes - depends on staff availability (approx 15 minutes, maximum of 2)
• All sessions are delivered online or face to face depending on Covid restrictions
• Email us to book or find out more. Please include availability, topic and phone number.

Librarian as co-author (SVHM staff only)

• SVHM staff planning to publish a systematic review may apply for a librarian to co-author.
• Please note this is a significant commitment and we are not able to accept all requests.
• Review teams must include at least two other authors and demonstrate a serious commitment to publish following the PRISMA guidelines.
• Find out more 

Covidence systematic review software (SVHM staff only)

• Web based - simplifies screening and data extraction for systematic reviews. Find out more.
• Email us for access through our institutional licence.

EndNote software (SVHM staff only)

• Onsite: Installed on hospital computers. Contact IT Department for updates or installation.
• Offsite: SVHM staff can contact the library for installation files for home computers.

Search for pre-existing reviews on the proposed topic (SVHM staff only)

• Library staff can assist with searching for pre-existing review papers.
• This is part of planning the review topic and question.
• This is not a structured search for the systematic review itself. Strategies are not provided.
• This search is not an exhaustive topic search. Results are limited to reviews.
• Request a standard literature search

What we can't do:

• We cannot provide you with written feedback on a search strategy you email to us.
• With the exception of co-authorship, we cannot develop or approve your search strategies for a systematic review. See "Can librarians approve search strategies for a systematic review"