How are Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses Conducted?
The process typically involves several steps:
1. Formulating a Clear Research Question: This step involves defining the specific questions the review aims to answer. 2. Developing a Protocol: A detailed plan outlining the criteria for including studies, search strategies, and statistical methods. 3. Literature Search: Comprehensive searches of databases like PubMed, Cochrane Library, and others to find relevant studies. 4. Study Selection and Data Extraction: Screening studies based on predefined criteria and extracting relevant data. 5. Quality Assessment: Evaluating the quality of the included studies to ensure reliability. 6. Data Synthesis: Combining the results qualitatively or quantitatively (meta-analysis). 7. Interpretation and Reporting: Discussing the findings, their implications, and any limitations.
