Systematic Review Writing: Saudi Researcher's Handbook

Odds ratios of 1.43 for acute myocardial infarction and 1.64 for cardiovascular death were found in a 2007 study. This study on the diabetes drug Rosiglitazone (Avandia) shocked the medical world. The drug was used by over 7 million people and made $3 billion in sales before it was pulled due to safety issues.

This shows how important a detailed systematic review can be. For Saudi researchers, learning to write systematic reviews is key. It helps them create studies that are based on solid evidence.

This guide, “Systematic Review Writing: Saudi Researcher’s Handbook,” is here to help. It teaches you the basics and practical steps for doing systematic reviews. These reviews are vital for making decisions in healthcare and shaping policies in Saudi Arabia.

By learning about systematic reviews, you can help improve healthcare in Saudi Arabia. This handbook will show you how to gather and analyze research. It will help you make a difference in healthcare policies.

Key Takeaways

Systematic reviews have a significant impact on healthcare decisions, as evidenced by the Rosiglitazone case study.
Mastering systematic review methodology is crucial for Saudi researchers to produce high-quality, evidence-based studies.
This handbook provides a comprehensive guide to the systematic review process, from formulating research questions to reporting findings.
Systematic reviews can inform clinical practice and healthcare policies in Saudi Arabia by synthesizing the best available research evidence.
Conducting a thorough literature search and managing data extraction are key steps in the systematic review process.

Introduction to Systematic Reviews

Systematic reviews are key in evidence-based research. They help combine knowledge and guide decisions. These reviews use a strict method to answer specific questions and cut down on bias.

They are different from regular reviews because of their detailed approach. Systematic reviews carefully pick and review studies. This gives a full view of a topic.

What is a Systematic Review?

A systematic review is a detailed process. It looks at all the evidence on a certain topic or question. It’s more thorough than a literature review or meta-analysis, aiming for reliable results.

Importance in Research

Systematic reviews are very important in research. They combine study results to give a clearer picture. This is key when studies have small samples or different findings.

Systematic reviews and meta-analyses help improve practices in fields like medicine and education. They help make choices based on solid evidence.

“Systematic reviews are the foundation of evidence-based practice, providing the most reliable and comprehensive summary of the effects of healthcare interventions.”

In Saudi Arabia, there’s a big push for evidence-based decisions. Systematic reviews are crucial for this. They help shape policies, improve healthcare, and guide education. This boosts the country’s research and well-being.

The Purpose of a Systematic Review

Systematic reviews are key in academic research. They give a detailed look at what’s known on a topic. They aim to answer specific questions, often using the PICOT format (Population, Intervention, Comparison, Outcome, and Timeframe). By combining high-quality studies, they boost our understanding and help in making better decisions.

Clarifying Research Questions

Good systematic reviews start with clear questions. These questions shape the whole review, from searching for literature to analyzing the data. Using the PICOT format makes sure the review is focused and useful.

Enhancing Evidence-Based Practice

In Saudi Arabia, systematic reviews help make healthcare decisions better. They gather the best evidence, giving professionals and policymakers solid information. This leads to better care, smarter use of resources, and stronger practices.

Statistic	Value
Estimated new systematic reviews published daily	22
Systematic reviews and meta-analyses published daily	50
Systematic reviews published by Cochrane Collaboration by 2010	Over 4,200
Reviews of nurse and midwife-led interventions identified	Over 30
Estimated timeframe for a systematic review	6-18 months

“With the ever-increasing number of systematic reviews published daily, reviews of systematic reviews have a clear role in evidence-based healthcare and decision-making in health care services.”

Key Methodological Steps

Doing a systematic review needs several important steps. Two key parts are setting clear inclusion and exclusion criteria and doing a detailed literature search.

Defining Inclusion and Exclusion Criteria

The first step is to set clear rules for what studies to include and exclude. This makes sure the review only looks at studies that are relevant and of good quality. The criteria might include things like study design, who was studied, what was done, and what was measured.

Conducting a Comprehensive Literature Search

The next step is to search widely across electronic databases like PubMed, EMBASE, and the Cochrane Library. The search should use both free-text terms and subject headings. This way, it catches all relevant studies, without limiting by language or date. This detailed search helps make sure no important studies are missed, making the study selection process thorough.

Database	Number of Citations
PubMed	15,789
EMBASE	12,345
Cochrane Library	8,422
Total	36,556

By setting clear criteria and doing a wide literature search, systematic reviewers can make sure their review includes the best and most reliable evidence. This helps answer the research question well.

Designing a Review Protocol

Creating a detailed review protocol is key for clear and fair systematic reviews. Saudi researchers should register their protocols with PROSPERO. This database boosts the trust and reliability of systematic reviews.

Importance of a Protocol

A good review protocol is like a map for the review journey. It outlines the research question, how to search for studies, and how to pick and analyze them. This planning reduces bias and ensures the review is consistent and open.

Key Elements of a Protocol

An effective protocol should have these main parts:

A clear and focused research question
A thorough search strategy in key databases
Specific rules for choosing studies to include
Standard ways to extract and manage data
A plan for evaluating study quality and bias
Methods for combining and analyzing data

By using a well-made protocol, Saudi researchers can make their systematic reviews more transparent and reliable. This helps in making evidence-based decisions in healthcare and research.

“Registering a systematic review protocol with PROSPERO helps to increase transparency, reduce duplication, and promote the timely completion of high-quality reviews.” – Cochrane Collaboration

Data Extraction and Management

Getting data right is key for solid systematic reviews. Saudi researchers use tools like Zotero and Rayyan to make this easier. They also use standard forms to keep data consistent and correct.

Extracting data means pulling out important details from studies. This includes things like study info, quality, and results. It’s vital for combining the data and making smart conclusions.

Choosing Data Extraction Tools

There are many ways to manage data extraction. Tools like Zotero and Rayyan help with organizing and extracting data. For simpler reviews, Excel or Google Forms might work. But for bigger datasets, Microsoft Access is better.

Ensuring Data Accuracy

Getting data right is crucial for a review’s trustworthiness. Researchers need a clear plan to keep things transparent and reproducible. This might include testing, getting feedback from experts, and checking the data quality.

Data Extraction Approach	Percentage of Publications
Extracting data from abstracts	84%
Extracting data from full texts	25%
Developing classifiers for randomized controlled trials	93%

By using the right tools and quality checks, Saudi researchers can make sure their data is accurate and reliable.

Critical Appraisal of Studies

Saudi researchers start by checking the quality of studies in systematic reviews. The Center for Evidence-Based Medicine (CEBM) says this step is key. It helps figure out if the evidence is reliable and valid.

Assessing Study Quality

Systematic reviews need a detailed check of each study’s quality. Two reviewers should look at each study’s risk of bias separately. This ensures a deep review of the literature.

Tools for Critical Appraisal

There are many tools for checking study quality. Each is made for different types of studies. Here are some:

The Cochrane Risk of Bias Tool for randomized trials in healthcare
The ROBINS-I tool for assessing risk of bias in non-randomized studies
Risk of bias toolsets from organizations like the National Institutes of Health and the Joanna Briggs Institute
The Latitudes Network’s tools for assessing risk of bias in different types of studies, such as diagnostic accuracy and reliability studies

Researchers can also look at lists of quality assessment tools. Duke University’s Medical Center Library & Archives has one.

Results of critical appraisal are often shown in tables and bar graphs. These help readers see the quality of the evidence in the review.

“Systematic reviews should aim to include all relevant studies that meet predetermined inclusion criteria, and this requires a thorough critical appraisal process.”

Synthesis of Findings

In the systematic review process, combining findings is key. It lets researchers make sense of the evidence. They analyze data from studies, using numbers or words.

Quantitative vs. Qualitative Synthesis

Choosing between quantitative and qualitative synthesis depends on the research question and data. Meta-analysis is used for numbers. It helps find the overall effect of an intervention.

Narrative synthesis is for words. It’s used when studies are different or don’t have numbers. It involves summarizing and interpreting findings in a clear way.

Techniques for Data Synthesis

Meta-analysis uses fixed-effect and random-effects models to combine study results. Subgroup analysis and meta-regression help understand heterogeneity.
Narrative synthesis uses thematic analysis, vote counting, and content analysis. These methods help synthesize qualitative and quantitative findings.

The method chosen for synthesis is very important. It affects the review’s conclusions. Saudi researchers must pick the best method for their research goals and the evidence they have.

Reporting Results

Saudi researchers starting their systematic review must follow guidelines and standards. The PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses) is key for clear and reliable reporting.

Structure of a Systematic Review Report

A good systematic review report should clearly explain the methods, results, and conclusions. It should include a flow diagram and summary tables to highlight the included studies’ key characteristics.

Guidelines and Standards to Follow

Saudi researchers should also know about Cochrane’s MECIR and PRISMA 2020 protocol. These guidelines help ensure systematic reviews are reported well and consistently.

Following these guidelines makes systematic review findings more credible and impactful. This helps in making better healthcare decisions.

Statistic	Value
Systematic reviews published in biomedical journals last year	Over 40,000
Percentage of systematic reviews that provided information on a protocol or registration record	Less than 50%
Percentage of Cochrane Reviews of interventions that should adhere to PRISMA 2020	100%
Suggested maximum word count for the main text of a Cochrane Review	10,000 words

“Reporting standards like PRISMA guidelines are essential for ensuring transparency and reproducibility in systematic reviews, which are crucial for evidence-based decision-making in healthcare.”

Common Challenges in Systematic Reviews

Doing systematic reviews is hard and takes a lot of time. Saudi researchers face special problems. The main ones are not having enough resources and not having enough time.

Time Management and Resources

Systematic reviews need a lot of time and resources. Research shows that biases can harm the study’s results. Good time management and using resources wisely are key to success.

Dealing with Publication Bias

Saudi researchers also struggle with publication bias. Systematic reviews search for all kinds of sources, including unpublished ones. Not finding all studies can make the results look wrong. It’s important to look for all studies to make the review better.

Challenges	Strategies
Time Constraints	Effective time management, strategic resource allocation
Publication Bias	Comprehensive literature searches, including grey literature

“The use of resources like the StaRI checklist and ‘implementation science’ subject heading can aid in addressing identification challenges in systematic reviews of implementation science literature.”

By tackling these challenges, Saudi researchers can make their systematic reviews better. This helps grow evidence-based research in the Kingdom.

Conclusion and Future Directions

Systematic reviews are key in Saudi Arabia’s healthcare. They help make better decisions and guide policy. They also help grow research development in the kingdom. The future of systematic reviews in Saudi Arabia looks bright.

Summarizing Key Takeaways

The systematic review process has many benefits for Saudi researchers and practitioners:

It strengthens evidence-based practice by combining the best research on a topic.
It finds gaps in knowledge and guides future research development in Saudi Arabia.
It makes research more transparent and accountable.
It improves the quality and reach of Saudi research in many fields.

The Future of Systematic Reviews in Saudi Research

The role of systematic reviews in Saudi Arabia’s research is set to grow. Some future directions include:

More focus on school research, like teaching and learning.
Studies on Saudi students’ speaking and listening skills, important for success.
More female participation in research, supporting gender equality and empowerment.
Building skills and capacity for better systematic reviews, improving Saudi research quality.

By using systematic reviews, Saudi researchers and policymakers can help the country become a global leader in evidence-based practice and innovation.

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Systematic Review Protocol Development	Our experts help you create a detailed systematic review protocol. This ensures your work is transparent, reproducible, and up-to-date.	This boosts your research’s quality and credibility, helping it get published in top journals.
Systematic Literature Search and Data Extraction	We do a thorough search and extract data carefully. This reduces bias and errors in your review.	This saves time and improves your review’s accuracy, covering all relevant research.
Critical Appraisal and Quality Assessment	Our team evaluates the quality and bias of studies. This helps you make informed conclusions.	This makes your review more credible and reliable, supporting evidence-based decisions.
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Expertise Across Diverse Research Domains

The Editverse team is skilled in literature searches and data synthesis. They offer research expertise to guide Saudi researchers. Their knowledge in different fields helps tailor support for your review.

Commitment to Excellence and Precision

Editverse’s academic excellence shines in their systematic review work. They follow guidelines and best practices carefully. This precision sets Editverse apart, giving Saudi researchers confidence in their work.

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Editverse has a global reputation for excellence. They have a successful track record of systematic reviews and publications. This makes them a reliable partner for Saudi researchers.

“Editverse’s unwavering commitment to quality and their deep understanding of systematic review methodologies have been invaluable in my research. Their team’s expertise and attention to detail have truly elevated the impact of my work.”

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FAQ

What is a systematic review?

A systematic review is a detailed look at many studies to answer a specific question. It uses a clear method to reduce bias. This makes it a reliable summary of research.

Why are systematic reviews important in evidence-based practice?

Systematic reviews are key for evidence-based practice. They reduce bias and give a full view of research on a topic. This helps guide healthcare decisions in Saudi Arabia.

How do systematic reviews differ from narrative reviews?

Systematic reviews follow a strict method to find and review studies. Narrative reviews are more flexible and subjective.

What is the PICOT format, and how is it used in systematic reviews?

The PICOT format helps define a research question. It stands for Population, Intervention, Comparison, Outcome, and Time. This makes sure the question is clear and focused.

What are the key steps in conducting a systematic review?

The main steps include setting clear criteria, searching for literature, and making a review plan. You also need to extract data, check study quality, and combine the findings.

Why is registering a systematic review protocol important?

Registering the protocol makes the review more transparent and credible. It ensures the methods are known before starting. This reduces bias and makes the review reproducible.

What are some common challenges Saudi researchers face when conducting systematic reviews?

Saudi researchers often struggle with time, resources, and finding all studies. Managing time well and searching for all types of studies helps overcome these issues.

How can Editverse support Saudi researchers in conducting systematic reviews?

Editverse helps Saudi researchers at every step of a systematic review. Their PhD-level experts assist with planning, searching, extracting data, assessing quality, and writing the manuscript. They address the unique challenges faced by Saudi researchers.