A structured summary of all available studies on a specific question.
A systematic review uses a pre-defined, reproducible protocol to search, select, and appraise all studies addressing a specific research question, aiming to minimise selection bias compared with a narrative review. It may or may not include a meta-analysis (pooled statistical synthesis of results) depending on whether the included studies are sufficiently similar. Quality varies considerably, so clinicians should check the rigour of the search strategy and risk-of-bias assessment rather than assuming the label guarantees high-quality evidence.
This guide was auto-drafted and is pending editorial review.