Carrying out systematic literature reviews: an introduction

Systematic reviews provide a synthesis of evidence for a specific topic
of interest, summarising the results of multiple studies to aid in clinical
decisions and resource allocation. They remain among the best forms
of evidence, and reduce the bias inherent in other methods. A solid
understanding of the systematic review process can be of benefit to nurses
that carry out such reviews, and for those who make decisions based on
them. An overview of the main steps involved in carrying out a systematic
review is presented, including some of the common tools and frameworks
utilised in this area. This should provide a good starting point for those that
are considering embarking on such work, and to aid readers of such reviews
in their understanding of the main review components, in order to appraise
the quality of a review that may be used to inform subsequent clinical
decision making.