Systematic Reviews: An Introduction for Health-Curious iSchool Students
A systematic review is a rigorous type of literature review that is used frequently in health policy and practice. This type of review doesn’t just summarize published literature—it uses explicit, systematic methods to find, appraise, and synthesize all empirical evidence to answer a specific research question, minimize bias, and produce reliable findings to support clinical and policy decision-making. Librarians bring invaluable skills to systematic review author teams, and librarian involvement in systematic reviews is recommended by prestigious review producers such as Cochrane. This workshop will introduce you to the purpose and process of conducting systematic reviews, with emphasis on the librarian’s role in supporting these reviews from start to finish. It will help you to assess if this specialized area of health sciences librarianship is of interest to you, and direct you to resources for professional certification in systematic review methodology.
After completing this workshop, participants will be able to:
- Define a systematic review, explain how it differs from other types of literature reviews, and identify where it fits into the pyramid of evidence
- Explain why the systematic review is an important tool for health care and policy decision making, and identify key characteristics and standards for a high-quality review
- List the high-level steps involved in conducting a systematic review, and identify key tools and approaches used in each stage of the review
- Articulate the librarian’s role in each stage of a systematic review, from evidence gathering to manuscript preparation; and
- Identify options for professional reviewer certification open to librarians from leading local and international systematic review collaboratives.
Date: Tuesday, February 6, 2024, 10:30am – 12pm
Location: Zoom
Instructor: Allison McArthur, Library Information Specialist, Public Health Ontario
