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A guide to systematic reviews
Author(s) -
Needleman Ian G.
Publication year - 2002
Publication title -
journal of clinical periodontology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 3.456
H-Index - 151
eISSN - 1600-051X
pISSN - 0303-6979
DOI - 10.1034/j.1600-051x.29.s3.15.x
Subject(s) - systematic review , narrative review , biomedicine , management science , engineering ethics , critical appraisal , review article , clinical practice , medicine , medline , alternative medicine , engineering , political science , intensive care medicine , pathology , bioinformatics , biology , law , family medicine
Abstract Systematic reviews have become widely used for evaluating evidence across all fields of biomedicine. The objective of a systematic review is to provide a comprehensive and contemporary appraisal of research using transparent methods whilst aiming to minimize bias. In essence, research methodology is employed in the conduct of the review. Such reviews are therefore fundamentally different from traditional ‘narrative’ review articles in their purpose and in their potential to aid clinical decision‐making. This paper is a guide to the rationale and nature of systematic reviews and will provide a background to understanding their use in clinical practice.