Systematic Reviews

Selecting the right review type for your research question is the first step for a successful review project. The following tools (or a librarian) can help you decide which review type is right for you:

In addition to the traditional Systematic Review, here are some other common review types:

Scoping or Mapping Review

• Answers a broad, topical question or questions 
• Risk of bias/critical appraisal not required 
• Synthesis is categorical for scoping review 
• Synthesis is a visual map for mapping review 

Sample Question (Scoping Review): What are the various strategies that have been used to engage patients and families in pediatric health research?

Sample Article (Scoping Review): Flynn R, Walton S, Scott SD. Engaging children and families in pediatric health research: a scoping review. Res Involv Engagem. 2019 Nov;5(32). 

Sample Question (Mapping Review): Why do patients with ‘primary care sensitive’ problems seek help from ambulance services?

Sample Article (Mapping Review): Booker, Matthew J., Ali R. G. Shaw, and Sarah Purdy. Why do Patients with 'Primary Care Sensitive' Problems Access Ambulance Services? A Systematic Mapping Review of the Literature. BMJ Open 2015, 5.5.

Resources for starting a scoping review:

• Arksey, H., & O’Malley, L. (2005). Scoping studies: towards a methodological framework. International Journal of Social Research Methodology, 8(1), 19-32. 
• Peters, M., Marnie, C., Tricco, A.C., Pollock, D., Munn, Z., Alexander, L., McInerney, P., Godfrey, C.M., & Khalil, H. (2020). Updated methodological guidance for the conduct of scoping reviews. JBI Evidence Synthesis, 18(10), 2119-2126. 
• Peters MDJ, Godfrey C, McInerney P, Munn Z, Tricco AC, Khalil, H. Chapter 10: Scoping Reviews In: Aromataris E, Munn Z (Editors). JBI Manual for Evidence Synthesis, JBI, 2024. Available from  https://synthesismanual.jbi.global.  

Integrative Review

• Summarizes literature about a healthcare problem or phenomenon, potentially utilizing both empirical and theoretical literature 
• Allows for the combination of publications with diverse methodologies (e.g. experimental and non-experimental research) 
• Popular in nursing research literature 

Sample Question: What factors are associated with major depression and suicide risk among nursing professionals?

Sample Article: Silva, Tavares, N. V. da S., Alexandre, A. R. G., Freitas, D. A., Brêda, M. Z., Albuquerque, M. C. D. S. de, & Melo, V. L. de N. (2015). Depression and suicide risk among nursing professionals: an integrative review. Revista da Escola de Enfermagem da U S P, 49(6), 1027–1031. https://doi.org/10.1590/S0080-623420150000600020

Resources for starting in integrative review:

• Whittemore, & Knafl, K. (2005). The integrative review: updated methodology. Journal of Advanced Nursing, 52(5), 546–553. 
• Hopia, Latvala, E., & Liimatainen, L. (2016). Reviewing the methodology of an integrative review. Scandinavian Journal of Caring Sciences, 30(4), 662–669. https://doi.org/10.1111/scs.12327 
• Toronto, C. E., & Remington, R. (Eds.). (2020). A step-by-step guide to conducting an integrative review. Springer. 

Rapid Review

• A systematic review with shortcuts (e.g. a limited search) 
• Useful for addressing issues that need a quick decision, such as developing policy recommendations or treatment recommendations for emergent conditions. 
• Enables a faster review process but may introduce bias 

Sample Question: Are digital contact tracing technologies effective during infectious disease outbreaks?

Sample Article: Anglemyer A, Moore THM, Parker L, Chambers T, Grady A, Chiu K, Parry M, Wilczynska M, Flemyng E, Bero L. Digital contact tracing technologies in epidemics: a rapid review. Cochrane Database  of Systematic Reviews 2020, Issue 8. Art. No.: CD013699.

Resources for starting a rapid review:

• Cochrane Methods: Rapid Reviews  
• Khangura, S., Konnyu, K., Cushman, R. et al. Evidence summaries: the evolution of a rapid review approach. Syst Rev 1, 10 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1186/2046-4053-1-10
• Maureen Dobbins, R., PhD. (2017). Rapid Review Guidebook: Steps for conducting a rapid review. 
• Tricco, A. C., Antony, J., Zarin, W., Strifler, L., Ghassemi, M., Ivory, J., . . . Straus, S. E. (2015). A scoping review of rapid review methods. BMC Med, 13, 224. doi:10.1186/s12916-015-0465-6

Umbrella Review

• A review of other systematic reviews 
• Often attempts to answer a broader question than a systematic review typically would. 
• Useful when there are competing interventions to consider. 

Sample Question: What is the global COVID-19 vaccine acceptance rate, and what factors determine that acceptance rate?

Sample Article: Abate BB, Tilahun BD, Yayeh BM. Global COVID-19 vaccine acceptance level and its determinants: an umbrella review. BMC Public Health. 2024 Jan 2;24(1):5. doi: 10.1186/s12889-023-17497-4.

Resources for starting an umbrella review:

• Chapter 9: Umbrella Reviews – from the JBI Manual for Evidence Synthesis   
• Fusar-Poli P, Radua J. Ten simple rules for conducting umbrella reviews. Evid Based Ment Health. 2018 Aug;21(3):95-100. doi: 10.1136/ebmental-2018-300014.
• Aromataris, Edoardo et al. Summarizing Systematic Reviews: Methodological Development, Conduct and Reporting of an Umbrella Review Approach. International journal of evidence-based healthcare 13.3 (2015): 132–140. 

Critical Literature Reviews

• Fall under broad umbrella of narrative reviews
• Methodologically flexible; not much guidance
• Often focus on 'wicked' problems that require a new way of thinking or unique expertise or judgement to take a stance on information uncovered and where the field should go as a result
• Allows an interpretive lens on knowledge synthesis
• researches use their perspectives to appraise and interpret the literature uncovered, rather than primarily acting to describe or summarize it
• critical reviews "typically manifest in a hypothesis or model, not an answer." (Grant and Booth)

Sample Question: How do advanced practice clinicians (physician assistants and nurse practitioners) contribute to graduate medical education trainee's learning and how are these contributions enabled?

Sample Articles:

• Barta K. Critical review of breastfeeding instruments derived from self-determination theory. J Hum Lact. 2024;40(3): 363-373. doi:10.1177/08903344241252647 
• Barker A, Konopasky A, Varpio L, Soh M, Poole B, Stalmeijer R. How advanced practice clinicians support of education for and contribute to education of graduate medical education trainees: A critical literature review. Acad Med. 2024;99(11):1286-1297. doi:10.1097/ACM.0000000000005858

Resources for starting a critical literature review:

• Critical Reviews. LitR-Ex.com.
• Kahlke R, Lee M, Eva KW. Building blocks for critical reviews in the health professions. J Grad Med Educ. 2023 Apr;15(2):186-189. doi: 10.4300/JGME-D-23-00155.1.
• Sukhera J. Narrative reviews: Flexible, rigorous, and practical. J Grad Med Educ. 2022;14(4):414-417. doi:10.4300/JGME-D-22-00480.1

Fifty Shades of Review with Andrew Booth (2016) - a recorded webinar and resource toolkit 

Grant, M.J., & Booth, A. (2009). A typology of reviews: an analysis of 14 different review types and associated methodologies. Health Information and Libraries Journal, 26: 91-108. DOI: 10.1111/j.1471-1842.2009.00848.x