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A high-quality systematic review is described as the most reliable source of evidence to guide clinical practice. The purpose of a systematic review is to deliver a meticulous summary of all the available primary research in response to a research question. A systematic review uses all the existing research and is sometime called 'secondary research' (research on research). They are often required by research funders to establish the state of existing knowledge and are frequently used in guideline development. Systematic review findings are often used within the healthcare setting but may be applied elsewhere. For example, the Campbell Collaboration advocates the application of systematic reviews for policy-making in education, justice and social work.
Systematic reviews can be conducted on all types of primary research. Many are reviews of...