Further information, FAQs and resources
Accordion
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Should I use Google in my systematic review?
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Can you run a session on systematic literature reviews?
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Should I use Library Search in a systematic review?
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What is cited reference searching?
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Can I use citation searching in a systematic review?
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What is an evidence hierarchy?
Research output comes in all shapes and sizes, and can vary in quality, some more robust and rigorous than others.
An evidence hierarchy, often referred to in evidence-based medicine, provides a top-down scale whereby you first search for a recent well-conducted systematic review and if that is not available, then move down to the next level of evidence to answer your question.
Evidence further down the scale may have a greater risk of bias.
Higher Quality Evidence
(Lower risk of bias)
Systematic reviews and meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials
Randomised controlled trials
Cohort studies
Case-controlled studies
Cross-sectional studies, surveys
Case reports, case studies
Mechanistic studies
Lower Quality of Evidence
(Higher risk of bias)
Editorials, expert opinion
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Should I include grey literature in a systematic review?
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What are inclusion or exclusion criteria?
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What is hand-searching?
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Can I save my searches?
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Can I export my search results?
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How can I remove or duplicate search results from multiple database searches?